The 60th anniversary and commendation conference of China’s dispatch of foreign aid medical teams was held in Beijing on December 29, 2023. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission cordially met with the conference representatives, expressed warm congratulations to them, and extended sincere respect to the comrades who are performing or have performed foreign aid medical missions.

At about 11:30 in the morning, Xi Jinping arrived at the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People and received warm applause from the audience. Xi Jinping waved to the representatives, communicated cordially with them, and took photos with them. Liu Guozhong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the conference and delivered a speech. He said that the Party Central Committee attaches great importance to foreign aid medical work, and General Secretary Xi Jinping fully affirmed the achievements of the work. Over the past 60 years, the vast number of foreign aid medical team members have benefited the local people with their benevolence and skills, and told the Chinese story with practical actions, winning high praise from the governments and people of the recipient countries. In the new era and the new journey, we should be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions, continue to carry forward the spirit of the Chinese medical teams, strive to create a new situation in foreign aid medical work, and make greater contributions to the construction of a human health community.

30 national advanced groups and 60 advanced individuals in foreign aid medical work were commended at the conference. The 29th Chinese medical aid team to Guinea, Zhao Xingshan of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital (Captain of the 27th Chinese medical aid team to Guinea) and Wang Xingwen of Xuanwu Hospital (Member of the 28th Chinese medical aid team to Guinea) were awarded the "National Advanced Group for Foreign Aid Medical Work" and the honorary title of "National Advanced Individual in Foreign Aid Medical Work" respeåctively.

Since Beijing sent the first foreign medical aid team to Guinea in June 1968, 56 batches of medical teams to Guinea, Burkina Faso, Vanuatu, Trinidad, Tobago and other countries and regions were dispatched, including 1,054 person times. 12 team members were buried in the recipient countries. According to incomplete statistics, the foreign aid medical teams of Beijing have diagnosed and treated approximately 830,000 patients, rescued approximately 169,000 critically ill patients, and completed approximately 209,000 surgeries. In recipient countries such as Guinea, the teams have created many "firsts" in local medical history and filled many medical technology gaps. Focusing on teaching the local people medical knowledge, the teams have cultivated a group of management and business backbones with outstanding technical capabilities for recipient countries. A long-term exchange and support platform was built and multiple medical centers for recipient countries were donated and established. The teams have served the Chinese personnel stationed abroad, Chinese-funded institutions and overseas Chinese, and have become their "guard of life."