From June 12 to 14, 2026, the 18th Straits Forum · Health and Sub-Forum was held in Xiamen [1]. Over 1,200 experts, scholars, and young representatives from the medical and health fields on both sides of the strait gathered in the "Egret Island," including more than 320 people from 22 Taiwanese medical organizations and institutions, with 149 Taiwanese youth. This is the eighth consecutive Health and Sub-Forum held under the Straits Forum framework since 2017 [1].
From its first convening in 2017 to the eighth in 2026, over eight years, the Health and Sub-Forum has seen continuously expanding participation, deepening topics, and increasingly fruitful outcomes. This evolutionary trajectory itself is a vivid portrayal of the integrated development of cross-strait health from shallow to deep, from point to surface [4].
In 2017, the Straits Forum established the Health and Sub-Forum for the first time [2]. At that time, exchanges between the medical and health circles on both sides of the strait were mostly scattered academic visits, lacking a systematic and regular dialogue platform. The birth of the Health and Sub-Forum filled this gap.
Eight years later, this platform has undergone profound changes. Wang Liji, President of the Cross-Strait Medical and Health Exchange Association, reflected with deep emotion on the forum's development history: "This sub-forum has over 1,000 participants, more than previous years, especially with more and more young physicians from both sides." He further revealed that relying on this platform, approximately 3,000 medical professionals come from Taiwan to the mainland for study and exchange each year. "The meeting ends, but the connections remain; the exchanges are established" [4].
In terms of topic setting, the depth and breadth of the sub-forum have also continued to expand. This year's sub-forum, themed "Technology and Digital Intelligence Empowering, Joining Hands to Promote Health," set up 12 special sessions covering frontier fields including hydrogen-oxygen medicine development, smart healthcare and AI-enabled patients, integrated Chinese and Western medicine, maternal-fetal medicine development, young physician growth and development, cancer prevention and treatment, biotechnology innovation and hospital pharmacy development, nursing practice and technological innovation, innovative development of thoracic surgery, and strategies and development of the wellness industry [1]. These topics both keep pace with the times and are grounded in the realities of both sides, fully reflecting the shared concerns of the medical communities.
Over eight years, the function of the Health and Sub-Forum has also been continuously upgraded from an initial information exchange platform, gradually evolving into an outcome co creation platform.
At this year's sub-forum, the group standard General Specification for Clinical Application of Hydrogen-Oxygen Mixture Inhalation Therapy (T/CRHA 316-2026) released at the Hydrogen-Oxygen Medicine Development Special Session is the best footnote to this upgrade [8]. The standard was led by the National Respiratory Medicine Center, jointly compiled with multiple top-tier Grade-A tertiary hospitals and authoritative research institutions nationwide [8]. Among them, the Taiwan invested enterprise Shanghai Asclepius Meditec participated as one of the joint lead drafting units [8]. The release of this standard marks the transition of cross-strait cooperation in hydrogen-oxygen medicine from previously scattered and experience-based academic exchanges, into a new stage of standardization, normalization, and long-term effectiveness [8].
Zheng Zhe, Vice Minister of the National Health Commission, stated in his opening address that regardless of changes in the international situation, the general trend of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the general trend of compatriots on both sides of the strait coming closer together will not change [2]. He expressed the hope that the medical and health communities on both sides would "build同心 through integration, jointly shoulder the mission of national rejuvenation," and "lead the future with innovation, jointly promote high quality development of health undertakings" [2]. Against the backdrop of the mainland's comprehensive implementation of the health priority development strategy during the "15th Five Year Plan" period, the deepening of cross-strait health cooperation not only has practical significance but also carries an important historical mission [2].
From a broader perspective, the eight year evolution of the Health and Sub-Forum resonates with the integrated development of the cross-strait health industry.
During this year's Straits Forum, the Cross-Strait Health Industry Cooperation and Development Forum was held concurrently. The forum was themed "Promoting Cross-Strait Integrated Development, Creating a New Future for the Health Industry" [6]. Wang Lu, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, expressed in his speech the hope that both sides would leverage their respective advantages, strengthen cooperation and exchange, and jointly promote the deep and substantive integration of the health industry [6]. During the forum, signing ceremonies were also held for cross-strait medical talent project implementation and cross-strait entrepreneurial talent industry cooperation [6], marking another substantial step forward in talent exchange and industrial collaboration in the health sector [7].
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated in introducing this year's Straits Forum that the forum adheres to the positioning of "grassroots, non-governmental, and broad-based" and continues the theme of "expanding grassroots exchanges and deepening integrated development" [9]. Supporting Fujian in exploring new paths for cross-strait integrated development and building a cross-strait integrated development demonstration zone is aimed at deepening integrated development across all fields and allowing Taiwanese compatriots to share in the mainland's development opportunities [9].
The eight years of the Health and Sub-Forum have been a gradual path from exchange to cooperation, and from cooperation to integration. From its first convening in 2017 to the group standard release in 2026, from dozens of Taiwanese representatives initially to 22 organizations with over 320 people now, from basic academic exchange to joint standard-setting every step proves that the deeper the cross-strait integration, the greater the achievements [4].
From one Taiwanese enterprise participating in standard-setting, to 1,200 medical professionals from both sides gathering in Xiamen; from lively discussions in one special session, to deep exchanges across 12 frontier fields the Straits Forum Health and Sub-Forum, over eight years, has written a vivid answer sheet for cross-strait integrated development [4]. And the next page of this answer sheet will be written together by an increasing number of young medical professionals from both sides [4].
[1] Xiamen Net, June 14, 2026 report "Technology and Digital Intelligence Empowering, Joining Hands to Promote Health Straits Forum · Health and Sub-Forum Held"
[2] National Health Commission official website, June 14, 2026 report "The 18th Straits Forum – Health and Sub-Forum Successfully Held in Xiamen"
[3] Fujian Provincial Health Commission official website, June 14, 2026 report "The 18th Straits Forum – Health and Sub-Forum Held in Xiamen"
[4] Health News, June 18, 2026 report "Promoting Cross-Strait Health Exchange and Cooperation to a Higher Level"
[5] China Taiwan Net, June 15, 2026 report "The 18th Straits Forum – Health and Sub-Forum Successfully Held in Xiamen"
[6] Xiamen Net, June 14, 2026 report "Promoting Cross-Strait Integrated Development, Creating a New Future for the Health Industry"
[7] Unity Net, June 16, 2026 report "The 18th Straits Forum · Cross-Strait Health Industry Cooperation and Development Forum Held in Xiamen"
[8] Xinmin Weekly, June 17, 2026 report "Academician Zhong Nanshan Interprets 'Triple Value,' Straits Forum Opens a New Chapter in Hydrogen-Oxygen Medicine Standardization"
[9] Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, June 3, 2026 press conference
