A new phase of China-ASEAN health cooperation: the China-ASEAN Beijing Declaration on Cooperation in Innovation of Health Products and Technologies

Abstract Utilizing innovative methods to advance the research and development (R&D) of health products and enhance their accessibility has become crucial to achieving universal health coverage, addressing public health emergencies, and promoting population health and wellbeing. However, structural contradictions do exist in the supply and demand of health products in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With the joint support of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Ministry of Education, and the China-ASEAN Center, Peking University established the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Public Health in April 2023. The Center held the Second Annual Forum on China-ASEAN Cooperation in Public Health on June 26–28, 2024, and the participants reached consensus on launching the China-ASEAN Beijing Declaration on Cooperation in Innovation of Health Products and Technologies, which calls on China and ASEAN countries to carry out the following actions: (1) Establish a more effective, open, and inclusive cooperation mechanism for health product innovation towards a China-ASEAN innovation ecosystem; (2) Enhance R&D capabilities by targeting new technologies, methods and appropriate and affordable health products for key populations and addressing diseases prevalent in China and ASEAN; (3) Establish a China-ASEAN Collaboration Center for Health Product Innovation, coordinate regional development plans, and enhance equitable access to pharmaceutical products at the regional level; (4) Accelerate regulatory harmonization in the region by optimizing and improving regulatory modalities of China and ASEAN Countries; and (5) Strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation to build resilient health system and achieve sustainable development of innovation cooperation. The Declaration will play an active role in regional public health governance and development cooperation, in order to promote the R&D and accessibility of health products in the region and to help achieve faster and more equitable access to health products for a broader population.