By JULIA DAY, STEPS Centre member

As we enter the ‘industrious and practical’ Chinese Year of the Ox, the country is emerging as a significant player in global health markets. Margaret Chan has recently become the first Chinese national to lead a UN agency with her appointment as Director-General of the WHO, and on 21 January the Chinese government made a dramatic announcement of its intent to provide free basic healthcare to all of its people in urban and rural areas within three years.

Successful co-operation with this new powerhouse is crucial if we are to meet the three Millennium Goals that relate to health; but there are concerns that increasing Chinese influence could in fact disrupt existing trade relationships and throw regulatory arrangements into disarray.

Gerry Bloom, STEPS Centre health domain convenor, Research Fellow at IDS and Future Health Systems Coordinator will discuss China’s potential impact on global health – for good or ill in a Dangerous Ideas for Development event entitled ‘China and Global Health Markets: Co-operation or Competition?’ and hosted by the All Party Parliamentray Group on Debt, Aid and Trade on 11 February, 18.00 – 19.30 Committee Room 17, Palace of Westminster, London. To reserve your place email Charlie Matthews: [email protected]