Meeting with Top Infectious Disease Experts from the US and China

Pouch and Zhong Nanshan to Hold Online Seminar at University of Edinburgh, UK on 2nd Next Month

Anthony Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (left), and Zhong Nanshan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
[Image source= AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Zhong Nanshan, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), will meet via video conference.

Zhong is recognized as the top authority on respiratory diseases in China, having been awarded the "Order of the Republic" last September for his outstanding work in COVID-19 prevention and control. Fauci is the leading expert on infectious diseases in the U.S. and currently serves as the chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden for COVID-19 response. This is the first meeting between the top infectious disease experts of China and the U.S. since the deterioration of U.S.-China relations.

The Chinese state-run Global Times reported on the 1st that Zhong and Fauci will meet via video conference at a seminar on infectious diseases hosted by the University of Edinburgh on March 2. Zhong said, "I will have a conversation on infectious diseases with the chief medical advisor to President Biden in March," adding, "Exchanges between infectious disease experts from both countries will have a positive impact on China-U.S. relations."

The Chinese government hopes for cooperation with the U.S. in the fields of infectious diseases and climate change following President Biden’s inauguration. If this meeting between the top infectious disease experts of both countries takes place, it could open the door for future dialogue between China and the U.S.

The Global Times cited experts saying that dialogue between infectious disease experts could help thaw the frozen relations between the two countries. Li Haidong, professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, said, "The meeting between these two experts who provide medical advice to the Chinese and U.S. governments will help open the door for dialogue between the two countries." He added, "Vaccine-related issues will also be included in the March dialogue agenda," noting, "Considering the different vaccination rates in each country, the two experts will also exchange views on ways to accelerate vaccination rates."

Meanwhile, Zhong attended a COVID-19 prevention event held in Guangzhou the day before and stated that about 60% of antibodies are produced after the first dose of the Chinese vaccine and about 90% after the second dose. He emphasized that it takes at least 2 to 3 weeks for antibodies to develop after vaccination and urged continued personal prevention measures such as wearing masks. Zhong also added, "The COVID-19 case numbers in China will stabilize after March."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.