Interesting stuff, especially the part about China helping Pakistan to set up a “University of Excellence..”
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/Mar-2004/2/main/top13.asp
Pakistan boosts health sector ties with China
A Chinese delegation will visit Islamabad next month to determine areas of bilateral cooperation in health sector. “We have decided to strengthen our cooperation with China, sharing each other experience and expertise to improve healthcare system in the country,” said Federal Minister for Health Mohammad Nasir Khan in an interview with APP at the end of his four-day visit to China. He termed the visit as highly productive that helped to initiate some new projects of bilateral cooperation. He said “We will implement the ideas and proposals already agreed upon, under the joint declaration signed in Beijing last November by President Pervez Musharraf and the Chinese President Hu Jintao.” The joint declaration sets the goals of bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest, to be accomplished during the 21st century.
Pakistan, he said attaches high priority to its relation with China, and wished to learn from its experience, providing better healthcare facilities to its people, specially to the low-income groups. “We are looking forward for the Chinese assistance developing the prevailing western and traditional systems in the country,” he added. Nasir Khan said China has agreed to help Pakistan establishing University of Excellence in the sector of traditional medicines and strengthening herbal industry in the country. An understanding to this effect was arrived at a meeting, he held here on Sunday with the Chinese vice health minister She Jing.
The two sides agreed helping each other establishing pharmaceutical companies producing indigenous-based western and traditional medicines. The State Administration of Traditional Chinese medicines will provide teaching and research facilities for the proposed University.
They would also award scholarships to Pakistani students, to study the Chinese traditional medicines and the treatment system, which have gained popularity all over the world. The two countries, the Minister said can share the fruits of their research work promoting ‘Tibbe-Unani” home and abroad. They possessed rich resources of herb and natural plants for producing effective medicines. To a question, he said that they would soon invite prominent Chinese companies to invest in the pharmaceutical sector. “ We are prepared to seek Chinese help for production of indigenous-based western medicines,” he added. On Monday, the Minister visited the famous Chinese traditional hospital in Beijing. He also met the officers and staff at the Pakistan Embassy. He also gave interview to the state-run Chinese newspaper, the Peoples’ Daily and the China Radio International.