As the Chinese New Year festivities unfolded last week, over 1,000 members of Chinese medical aid teams remained steadfast at their posts across the globe, providing essential healthcare services to patients in their host countries.

According to data released by the National Health Commission, China's health authority, 2025 marked a significant milestone with the deployment of 1,061 medical personnel across 57 countries for foreign aid missions, resulting in approximately 2.06 million patient visits in these nations.

These dedicated medical professionals continue to uphold the spirit of boundless love and commitment, contributing to a new chapter in international health assistance.

In the past year, these teams have actively advanced the "minimally invasive medicine" initiative in 20 countries, achieving remarkable breakthroughs such as the first laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair in Equatorial Guinea and the inaugural urological laparoscopic surgery in Djibouti.

Furthermore, the Chinese medical team in Malawi made history by performing the country's first-ever surgery on a rare premature infant, addressing a crucial technical gap in local healthcare.

Tragically, the dedication of these medical teams was exemplified by Zhang Junqiao, the leader of the 27th batch sent to Tanzania, who lost his life while heroically attempting to save a local resident from drowning, earning him posthumous recognition as a martyr.

Since its inception in 1963, China has dispatched a remarkable total of 31,000 medical team members to 77 countries and regions, collectively serving approximately 300 million patients and making a lasting impact on global health.

In addition to direct medical care, China has initiated 49 paired hospital cooperation projects in 43 countries, established 29 key clinical specialty cooperation centers, and significantly contributed to bridging hundreds of technical gaps in local healthcare systems.