Universities unite to tackle aging challenges

Dalian, Liaoning province, hosted the inaugural meeting of the China-Japan-South Korea Health and Wellness University Alliance on Saturday. The purpose of the alliance is to promote cooperation among the three countries in health and wellness to collectively address the challenges of an aging population.

According to Li Haiyang, the Party chief of Dalian Medical University, the school proposed the alliance in July last year, drawing 43 founding member universities.

"All members will adhere to the principles of consultation, construction, and sharing, fully leveraging their respective strengths and high-quality educational resources to promote the development of health and wellness in the three countries," he said.

Lee Hee-sup, secretary general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, attended the meeting and said that Northeast Asia had become the fastest-aging region in the world. According to him, the need to establish a strong and sustainable social security system to address the rapid aging trend is urgent. To that end, this alliance is of great significance in strengthening cooperation and unity among universities in the three countries, enhancing the health and well-being of citizens, and promoting regional prosperity and sustainable development.

During the meeting, Liu Ying, president of Dalian Medical University, read out the Dalian Declaration of the China-Japan-Korea Health and Wellness University Alliance, calling for deepened collaboration among all alliance members in talent cultivation, research transformation, cultural exchange, social services, and other areas.