The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday issued a strong warning on the consequences of the cessation of U.S. global health funding, saying it is threatening millions of lives and urging efforts to be made for more sustainable solutions.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said at an online press briefing that if the U.S. withdraws direct funding for countries, it has a responsibility to ensure an orderly and humane way that allows those countries to find alternative sources of funding.
"If the U.S. decides not to restore direct funding to countries, we ask it to engage in dialogue with affected countries so plans can be made to transition from reliance on U.S. funding to more sustainable solutions, without disruptions that cost lives," Tedros said.
The WHO chief said U.S. cuts are threatening to reverse years of progress in the fight against diseases like malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and measles.
It could result in more than 10 million new HIV infections and three million HIV-related deaths, Tedros said.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan 20 withdrawing the United States from the WHO, and suspending any funding or support to the organization.
US funding cuts threaten millions of lives: WHO
The U.S. travel sector is actively tapping into the growing demand for outbound tourism from China, introducing new products and initiatives to attract more Chinese travelers.
According to the China Tourism Academy, Chinese outbound trips reached 130 million in 2024, highlighting a strong recovery and potential in the market.
To capitalize on this opportunity, Visit California, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting California as a premier travel destination, has unveiled new plans for business expansion in 2025.
"This year we're investing 7.2 million [U.S.] dollars across various channels such as brand, PR, trade and partnerships. We've recently just invested over 10 billion dollars on product upgrades, new hotels, attractions, and other experiences, really trying to communicate the strong commitment we have to the market," said Caroline Beteta, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Visit California in an interview with China Media Group.
Beteta emphasized California's efforts to enhance accessibility for Chinese travelers, including increasing direct flights and trying to streamline visa procedures.
"We have some good news with United Airline's expanding from Beijing to LA in 2025. In addition to that, we're working with government and federal partners to help alleviate some of the visa challenges in the market," she said.
U.S. travel sector eyes opportunities in growing Chinese outbound tourism
