Crossing Mountains and Seas, Walking the Path of Medicine Together — The Health Sustainable Development Working Committee of the SCO Multifunctional Economic and Trade Platform has co‑organized the China (Lingang) International Medical Technology Cross‑Border Cooperation Initiative, yielding fruitful results.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Time

From May 3 to 9, 2026, the “2026 China (Lingang) International Medical Technology Cross‑Border Cooperation Event for Central Asia,” co‑organized by the Medical Device Innovation Center of the Lingang New Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the Health and Sustainable Development Working Committee of the SCO Multifunctional Economic and Trade Platform, successfully concluded all its scheduled activities, yielding substantial results in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Centered around the themes of “Clinical Innovation, Medical Education, and Intelligent Integration,” the event employed a variety of formats—including academic exchanges, surgical demonstrations, on‑site visits, and contract signings—to bring China’s cutting‑edge medical technologies, talent‑development models, and industrial‑cooperation principles deep into Central Asia, thereby adding a vivid and heartwarming chapter to the building of the “Health Silk Road.”

Charming Astana: A Warm Embrace from the City of the Future

In early May, Astana boasts a clear sky and gentle spring breezes. This young capital city on the banks of the Ishim River welcomes its far‑traveling Chinese guests in its own distinctive way. Under the sun, Norman Foster’s “Pyramid”–shaped Palace of Peace stands in striking contrast to the all‑blue “Tree of Life” observation tower; meanwhile, clusters of glass‑clad skyscrapers rise along both sides of wide, tree‑lined boulevards, showcasing the futuristic urban landscape emerging on the steppe. In this vibrant metropolis that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity, East with West, the Chinese medical delegation has experienced the openness of society, the charm of the city, and the warmth of its people—gathering ample confidence for the deep cooperation that lies ahead.

High-Profile Academic Conference: Chinese Wisdom Illuminates Astana

On May 4–5, the delegation attended the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Bridging Clinical Innovation, Medical Education and AI” held at the Astana Medical University.

This conference brought together leading medical experts and education administrators from China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries. At the plenary session, Tian Ruixue, Executive Director of the Lingang New Area Medical Device Innovation Center and Director of the Expert Office of the Health Sustainable Development Working Committee of the SCO Multifunctional Economic and Trade Platform, delivered a keynote address titled “From Lingang, China, to the Global Stage: Cross-Border Cooperation in Healthcare and the Internationalization of the Industry.” She provided a detailed overview of the functions and achievements of the Lingang New Area Medical Device Innovation Center and the Health Sustainable Development Working Committee of the SCO Multifunctional Economic and Trade Platform in advancing medical device innovation and establishing cross-border healthcare platforms, drawing significant attention from the attendees. Professor Wang Yu, Director of Spinal Surgery at Peking University First Hospital, presented on “Surgical Treatment of Severe Spinal Deformities,” sharing invaluable experience in performing complex spinal deformity surgeries. Meanwhile, Director Wang Ruizhi of Interventional Radiology at Fudan University focused on cutting-edge applications of interventional techniques; his presentation, “The Major Advantages and Vast Prospects of Minimally Invasive Interventional Procedures,” sparked keen interest and lively engagement among the physicians in attendance.

“The conference also featured a concurrent exhibition, and our booth was constantly bustling with visitors. Attendees were eager to learn about China and to discover the medical technologies and products originating from the country.”

“The Art on the Tip of the Knife”: Chinese Doctors Showcase Exquisite Skill

Beyond academic exchanges, Chinese experts won over their local counterparts with hands-on surgical demonstrations. On the afternoon of May 4, Director Wang Ruizhi successfully performed a minimally invasive interventional embolization procedure for uterine fibroids at City Hospital No. 1 in Astana. During the operation, guided by digital subtraction angiography, Director Wang precisely advanced a microcatheter through a puncture site measuring only about 2 millimeters into both uterine arteries and injected an embolic agent to block the blood supply to the fibroids. Throughout the procedure, the patient remained awake and pain-free, with blood loss under 5 milliliters and the entire process taking less than an hour; the fibroids were effectively “starved to death” due to ischemia. The patient was able to get out of bed immediately after surgery and was discharged the following day. The advantages of this minimally invasive intervention—minimal trauma, rapid recovery, preservation of the uterus, and a low complication rate—earned repeated praise from the Kazakhstani physicians present: “Chinese technology truly lives up to its reputation!” Cardiolink Science provided the consumables—including microcatheters, embolic microspheres, and drug‑eluting microspheres—free of charge for this surgical demonstration.

Equally inspiring, on the afternoon of May 8, Professor Wang Yu personally performed two highly complex surgeries for spinal canal stenosis at VADANTA Hospital, affiliated with the Kyrgyz International Institute of Higher Medical Education. With fluid, masterful precision, he carefully resected portions of the lamina, creating vital space for the compressed nerves, and patiently guided the local physicians throughout the entire process—sharing his expertise from preoperative assessment to postoperative management. In a letter of gratitude, the director of VADANTA Hospital wrote: “We have truly felt the warmth and strength of Chinese medical technology.”

Building a Healthy Path Together: Cross-Border Healthcare Cooperation Accelerates

On the morning of May 4, a solemn signing ceremony for a memorandum of cooperation on a cross-border medical platform was held at the main venue of Astana Medical University. The Lingang New Area Medical Device Innovation Center signed separate memoranda with both Astana Medical University and Karaganda State Medical University. Under these agreements, the parties will collaborate to establish a digital platform for cross-border medical services and telemedicine consultations, enabling real-time remote consultations between Chinese and Kazakh physicians. They will also jointly set up a joint laboratory to conduct validation and promote new technologies. In addition, the memoranda stipulate that Kazakh physicians will be sent to Shanghai’s leading medical centers for advanced training, and that joint seminars and master classes will be organized in fields such as oncology, cardiology, and rehabilitation medicine. Furthermore, the parties will undertake collaborative research in areas including medical devices, digital health, and telemedicine, co‑publish high‑impact papers, and participate in international conferences. This five-year memorandum marks a significant step forward, transforming China–Kazakhstan cooperation in medical science and technology from sporadic exchanges to a more institutionalized, platform‑based framework.

Zhu Zhi, founder and chairman of Shanghai Jieyi Biotechnology Co., Ltd., along with several members of the delegation, visited a specialized organization supporting persons with disabilities and engaged in discussions on preventing birth defects in newborns. During talks with officials from the Ministries of Health of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on improving neonatal health outcomes, Jieyi Biotechnology’s innovative SCID Newborn Screening Solution received high praise.

“Lingang Model” Export: CDMO Technology Transfer, Plant Construction, and Talent Development

At the Astana Medical University, Director Tan Yang of the International Cooperation Department of the Lingang New Area Medical Device Innovation Center, along with representatives from Shanghai Haofeng Medical Technology Co., Ltd. and ZhanYuan Biotechnology (Chengdu) Co., Ltd., held discussions with relevant university leaders on collaborative models. The parties agreed that Haofeng Medical and ZhanYuan Biotechnology will, through technology transfer, assist Astana in establishing a manufacturing hub for minimally invasive interventional consumables such as catheters and balloons. This center will not only enable localized production of key consumables, thereby reducing healthcare costs, but will also serve as a training base for interventional‑technology professionals, cultivating a pool of highly qualified specialists proficient in the operation and maintenance of interventional devices. Together, these efforts will create an integrated “technology–equipment–talent” value chain.

Visiting the “Champion” Simulation Center: A Deep Alignment with Educational Philosophy

A Visit to Kyrgyzstan: The Luban Workshop and the Diabetes Treatment Center

After the delegation traveled to Kyrgyzstan, it paid visits to VADANTA Hospital affiliated with the Kyrgyz International Higher Medical College, the Faculty of Medicine at the Kyrgyz International University, and the Chuy Oblast Hospital. During a symposium with the Faculty of Medicine at the Kyrgyz International University, both sides engaged in candid and in-depth discussions on two proposed areas of cooperation.

First, we will jointly establish a “Luban Workshop” dedicated to training specialists in the maintenance and repair of advanced medical equipment, thereby laying the capacity foundation for local healthcare systems to independently operate cutting-edge Chinese-made devices. Second, we will explore a new model of minimally invasive interventional therapy combined with pharmacological treatment for diabetes. China will provide interventional technical protocols and relevant pharmaceutical support, with the intention of establishing in Kyrgyzstan an integrated center for diabetic interventional treatment that combines clinical care, training, and research. If this innovative approach is successfully implemented, it will offer fresh therapeutic prospects to tens of thousands of diabetic patients across Central Asia.

PARAMED, a member of the delegation, specializes in medical device registration services. General Manager Zhang Yuan stated that the company will provide end-to-end support for the registration and market access of Chinese medical devices in Central Asian countries, helping Chinese medical equipment, instruments, and consumables expand into the region and contributing to the realization of cross-border healthcare cooperation goals.

Celebrating Victory Day Together: China–Kyrgyzstan Friendship Ascends Amid Historic Glory

On May 9, as Kyrgyzstan solemnly commemorated the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Chinese delegation, with profound respect, joined the Kyrgyz people in laying flowers at the Monument to the Fallen Heroes, together honoring the heroes who gave their lives for world peace. At the ceremony, veteran soldiers warmly shook hands and exchanged greetings with Chinese doctors, while children held red carnations—symbols of remembrance and gratitude. In that moment, language ceased to be an obstacle; the shared memory of history and the universal aspiration for peace drew the hearts of the peoples of China and Kyrgyzstan ever closer. Safeguarding peace, advancing medical cooperation, and ensuring health and well‑being for the local population are our common aspirations.

Building a Healthy Silk Road Together, Writing a New Chapter in Harmony

During a brief week-long visit to Central Asia, the Medical Device Innovation Center of the Lingang New Area, in collaboration with world‑class medical experts and leading enterprises, used academic exchange as a bridge, surgical demonstrations as a medium, and partnerships as a driving force to sow the seeds of friendship and health across the region. From the hallowed halls of academia in Astana to the blueprints for a CDMO manufacturing hub, from the simulation center in Karaganda to the operating table in Bishkek, every stop was marked by the professionalism, sincerity, and sense of responsibility of China’s medical community.

In a letter of gratitude, the director of Kyrgyz VADANTA Hospital wrote: “We firmly believe that the cross-border healthcare platform your center is establishing will significantly advance China–Kyrgyzstan medical cooperation and yield fruitful results.” This epitomizes the true spirit of this Central Asia trip—medicine knows no borders, and cooperation leads to mutual benefit. Moving forward, the Lingang New Area Medical Device Innovation Center will continue to help more Chinese technologies, standards, and talent reach the global stage, contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to the health and well-being of people along the Belt and Road.

This event is jointly organized by the Lingang New Area Medical Device Innovation Center, the International Medical Technology Industry–Education Integration Consortium, and the Health Sustainable Development Working Committee of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Multifunctional Economic and Trade Platform.

(Contributed by the Platform’s Committee on Sustainable Development of Hygiene)