BEIJING, AUG 18 (DNA) – A communique was adopted Friday by countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to synergize efforts in medical emergency response and epidemic prevention.

The communique, approved at a symposium attended by officials from more than 30 countries, the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, is also aimed at protecting public health and strengthening people-to-people exchanges among countries under the initiative.

The countries agreed to set up a network for the research of health policies, jointly develop traditional medicine and boost medical staff exchanges, according to the communique.

Medical research institutes are encouraged to carry out cooperation in medical science, epidemic prevention, vaccine research and development, as well as clinical research, it said.

Countries involved in the initiative will also discuss mutual recognition of standards of accreditation of medicine and facilities, according to the statement.

Representatives from research institutes, NGOs, think tanks and enterprises also attended the symposium.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes to seek common development and prosperity.