President Xi Jinping sent a letter of congratulations to a global health forum that opened in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Tuesday.

Universal access to health services is a common vision of humanity and a major component of efforts to build a community of shared future for mankind, Xi said in the letter, which was read by Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan during the opening ceremony of the Global Health Forum of Boao Forum for Asia.

In the letter, Xi said he hoped the forum could result in consensus and promote global health development, including the development of health industries, and promote international cooperation on health to contribute to the well-being of mankind.

In her keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Sun said China has been engaged in international cooperation on health for decades and has sent medical assistance teams to 71 countries, including those in Asia and Africa, which have provided nearly 280 million diagnosis and treatment services to local people.