White paper on Hong Kong crucial for "one country, two systems": official statements

Three central offices have reacted to a white paper titled "Hong Kong: Safeguarding China's National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems" that was released on Tuesday by China's State Council Information Office.

The white paper details efforts to safeguard national security in Hong Kong and the central government's fundamental responsibility for national security matters concerning Hong Kong.

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said on Tuesday that the white paper is of major and far-reaching significance for the high-quality development of the "one country, two systems" cause.

The white paper shows that the struggle to safeguard national security in Hong Kong has never stopped, and that the enactment and implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong is a major milestone in the practice of "one country, two systems," the spokesperson noted.

The national security law has served as a turning point marking Hong Kong's shift from turmoil to order, and ushered in a new stage in the practice of "one country, two systems," the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson also said that the white paper details how Hong Kong has effectively fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, and it reviews the historic achievements and transformative changes that have been made.

The spokesperson stressed that safeguarding national security in Hong Kong is meant to uphold the principle of "one country, two systems," protect national sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensure the region's long-term prosperity and stability.

A secure, free, open, dynamic and development-oriented Hong Kong serves the fundamental interests of the country, the well-being of its residents, and the interests of overseas investors, the spokesperson noted.

With a high level of security in place, Hong Kong will be well-positioned to overcome risks and challenges ahead and achieve enduring peace and stability, as well as long-term prosperity, the spokesperson concluded.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said on Tuesday that the white paper offered sound guidance for advancing Hong Kong's national security work.

A spokesperson for the office said that the white paper provides a comprehensive review of Hong Kong's extraordinary journey in safeguarding national security, clearly articulates the Central Government's firm principles in upholding national security and defending the "one country, two systems" framework, and summarizes the experiences of Hong Kong in safeguarding national security under the principle of "one country, two systems."

It points out directions for promoting Hong Kong's work in safeguarding national security and injects strong impetus into consolidating the consensus on safeguarding the high-quality development of the "one country, two systems" cause with high-level security, the spokesperson said.

The white paper on Hong Kong's efforts in safeguarding national security will deepen public understanding that safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development is the primary principle of "one country, two systems," the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Tuesday.

The white paper was released at a critical juncture as the implementation of "one country, two systems" has entered a new stage and Hong Kong has taken fresh strides in transitioning from disorder to stability and prosperity, a spokesperson for the office said.

Leveraging the release of the white paper as a new starting point, Hong Kong will step up its national security efforts to continuously ensure that its high-quality development will be safeguarded by high-level security, the spokesperson noted.

White paper on Hong Kong crucial for "one country, two systems": official statements

South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.

The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.

Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.

He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.

"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.

The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.

"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.

This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.

The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.

"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.

"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.

In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.

"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.

As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.

Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub