First lady expresses support for Gates Foundation's medical efforts

Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, expressed support on Monday for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's efforts to strengthen cooperation with China, as well as third parties, in capacity building medical professionals for China and the world, when meeting with Bill Gates, the foundation's founder, in Shanghai.

Peng, also the World Health Organization's goodwill ambassador for TB and HIV/AIDS, appreciated the foundation's input in poverty reduction and the medical sector in past years, and said it has carried out productive cooperation with relevant departments of China in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, medical assistance to poverty-stricken people in rural areas, and capacity building of global medical professionals.

Gates is in Shanghai to attend the ongoing China International Import Expo. He said Xi's keynote speech at the expo's opening ceremony was inspiring.

Gates said he highly appreciates China's tremendous achievements in poverty alleviation and the contributions it has made to promoting the undertaking of healthcare in the world, Gates said, adding his foundation is ready to continue to intensify relevant cooperation with China.