Vice Minister Liu Yanhua met Dr. Tadataka Yamada, President of the Global Health Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on April 2nd, 2009. Both sides exchanged ideas on the R&D cooperation in health, particularly the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

Health is both the focus of the Gates Foundation and the priority of S&T development in China. VM Liu points out that the production of new medicines and the prevention and treatment of AIDS, viral hepatitis and other infectious diseases are highlighted by the Chinese government, which aims to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies through special projects.

President Yamada hopes that the Gates Foundation and MOST could jointly support the research in medical health, the common concern of both parties. The Gates Foundation will have an in-depth discussion with MOST on the possibility and concrete measures of the joint financial program. VM Liu Yanhua says that MOST welcomes the Gates Foundation to expand collaboration with Chinese governmental agencies, enterprises and scientific research institutes to benefit the people of the two countries.