Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

China’s foreign health aid: history, challenges, perspectives, and policy recommendations

  • Original Article
  • Published:
China International Strategy Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Health aid is integral to both China’s foreign aid and foreign policies. Over the last six decades, China’s health aid has grown in both diversity and scale. As a result of ever fiercer jostling between great powers and the further globalization of healthcare in the twenty-first century, China now faces challenges that relate to increasing both the scope and influence of health aid, bringing it under unified management, ensuring a steady supply of medical workers, and efficiently spreading proven national experience. As a responsible great power, China has therefore made a series of new commitments and proposals regarding foreign health aid in the new era and establishing the long-awaited national international cooperation agency dedicated to the overarching policy-making and management of foreign aid. Nevertheless, further developing national strategies, legal frameworks, decision-making and management mechanisms, and a holistic model for aid while deepening engagement with international cooperation are also essential for China’s future health aid reform.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bai, Yunzhen. 2016. Pillars and Strategies of China’s Foreign Aid. Beijing: Current Affairs Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brautigam, Deborah. 2009. The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao, Junjin. 2018. Review on the Changes of China’s Institutional System of Foreign Aid Administration: Evolution and Outlook. International Economic Cooperation 10: 52–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, Feng. 2015. Aid, Cooperation, Integration: A Perspective. People’s Daily. http://data.people.com.cn/rmrb/20151202/22. Last accessed 28 May 2019.

  • Chinese State Council Information Office. 2011. China’s Foreign Aid (2011). http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2011-04/21/content_1849712.htm. Last accessed 27 May 2019.

  • Chinese State Council. 2016. Outline of “Healthy China 2030” Plan. http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2016-10/25/content_5124174.htm. Last accessed 2 May 2019.

  • Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs. 2017. Quarterly Statistical Report on Social Services (1Q2017). http://www.mca.gov.cn/article/sj/tjjb/qgsj/170502/201705051153.html. Last accessed 14 April 2019.

  • Chinese State Council Information Office. 2017. Development of China’s Public Health as an Essential Element of Human Rights. http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2017-09/29/content_5228551.htm#1. Last accessed 27 May 2019.

  • CIDCA. 2018. China International Development Cooperation Agency: what we do. http://en.cidca.gov.cn/2018-08/01/c_259525.htm. Last accessed 21 May 2019.

  • Ding, Shaobin. 2010. Major Powers’ Foreign Aid: An Insight from Social Exchange Theory. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Du, Shangze, and Bingxin Li. 2015. Xi Jinping Addresses the High-level Roundtable on South-South Cooperation. People’s Daily. http://data.people.com.cn/rmrb/20150928/1. Last accessed 8 May 2019.

  • FOCAC. 2015. Full Text: China’s second Africa policy paper. http://www.china.org.cn/world/2015-12/05/content_37241677.htm. Last accessed 28 May 2019.

  • FOCAC. 2018. Full Text: Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan. https://www.focac.org/chn/zywx/zywj/t1592247.htm. Last accessed 29 May 2019.

  • Grépin, Karen A., Victoria Y. Fan, Gordon C. Shen, and Lucy Chen. 2014. China’s Role as a Global Health Donor in Africa: What can We Learn from Studying under Reported Resource Flows? Globalization and Health 10: 84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Meibo. 2009. Formation and Development of China’s Foreign Aid Management System. International Economic Cooperation 5: 32–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Huajie. 2015. Re-examination of the History of Chinese Medical Teams in Africa (1963–1983): With Discussions on the Effectiveness and Sustainability of International Aid. Foreign Affairs Review 4: 61–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, Yueqian, Zheng Xie, and Peilong Liu. 2017. Emerging Power for International Health Development Assistance: A Case Study of the BRIC Countries. Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2: 57–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Yi. 2013. Adhere to the Correct View of Justice and Benefit; Actively Play the Role of Responsible Big Power. People’s Daily. http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2013-09/10/content_2484898.htm. Last accessed 26 May 2019.

  • Wang, Yunping. 2014. A Comparative Study on the Global Health Strategies of Seven OECD Countries. Chinese Journal of Health Policy 7: 9–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Yunping, Wenjie Liang, Hongwei Yang, Gui Cao, Xiaodan Fan, Nan Jin, and Xuan Wang. 2015. Ideology and Practice of Development Assistance for Health in China. Chinese Journal of Health Policy 5: 37–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Yunping, Nan Jin, and Xiaodan Fan. 2017. History, current situation and trend of China’s overseas health facilities aid. Chinese Journal of Health Policy 8: 60–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xi, Jinping. 2015a. Keynote speech of President Xi Jinping at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. Xinhuanet. http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-09/28/c_128272780.htm. Last accessed 28 May 2019.

  • Xi, Jinping. 2015b. Opening a New Era of China-Africa Win-Win Cooperation and Common Development. People’s Daily. http://data.people.com.cn/rmrb/20151205/2. Last accessed 21 May 2019.

  • Xu, Weizhong. 2012. China’s Health Aid to and Cooperation with Africa: Evolution, Achievements, and Challenges. In China-Africa Health Collaboration in the Era of Global Health Diplomacy, ed. Peking University Global Health Research Center, 27–36. Beijing: World Affairs Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Rulin. 2000. Memorabilia of the Relation Between China and Africa (1949–1999). West Asia and Africa 5: 73–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, Kaixian. 2009. First Legal Membership Reclaimed by China since 1949. Culture and History Vision 7: 21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuo, Yun. 2013. Contributions and Challenges of China’s Foreign Medical Aid Teams. International Economic Cooperation 11: 8–10.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China

    Yu Wang & Peilong Liu

Authors
  1. Yu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peilong Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, Y., Liu, P. China’s foreign health aid: history, challenges, perspectives, and policy recommendations. China Int Strategy Rev. 1, 153–167 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42533-019-00010-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42533-019-00010-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation