Western Pacific Naval Symposium medical workshop opens

The medical workshop of the 2016 Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) opened here Wednesday, drawing more than 60 representatives from 13 member countries, including Australia and Canada, as well as Bangladesh and Pakistan as observers.

During the two-day event, attendees will discuss topics spanning submarine medical rescue; construction of maritime medical capabilities and sea disaster rescue; and international humanitarian medical services.

Also, the Chinese Navy will present a brief history of the military medical sciences and the main research fields and achievements. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit the Navy's medical research center, including a training cabin for the rescue of submarine personnel.

Initiated in 2002, the workshop is designed to boost cooperation and exchange among naval medical forces from various countries, activities include medical rescue seminars, table exercises and live drills.

During the event, Liu Jun, Chinese Navy representative, expressed his hope that militaries can improve medical exchange and cooperation, vowing that the Chinese Navy will continue to offer medical support to countries in need.

The Chinese Navy's medical team has participated in 23 escort missions in international waters, and its hospital ship, Peace Ark, has sailed to 29 countries and directly served more than 90,000 people overseas.

The WPNS was established, as proposed by the United States and its allies in 1987, with the goals to promote pragmatic cooperation between the navies of countries bordering the Pacific Ocean region. Endi