Provincial leaders talk with representatives from the University of Edinburgh, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and China Merchants Group at the conference on Oct 14. [Photo/Hainan Daily]

A conference was held in Hainan on Oct 14, in which provincial leaders met with representatives from the University of Edinburgh, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and China Merchants Group to discuss the establishment of a school of medicine in Qionghai.

The school is expected to be built in the city's Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone.

Shen Xiaoming, governor of Hainan, attended the conference. 

Peter Mathieson, principal of the University of Edinburgh, Chen Guoqiang, dean of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Zhu Wenkai, general manager of China Merchants Group, all expressed strong willingness to make full use of Hainan's preferential policies and geographic advantages to build a top-notch medical school in the island province.     

The attendees also exchanged views on how the school should be running, the establishment of teaching and learning systems, as well as sources of students, agreeing to set up a special team to facilitate project construction.

At the conference, Shen gave an introduction on the construction of the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Zone and Pilot Free Trade Port, providing an overview of the advantages of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, as well as breaking down the potential problems that might occur during the establishment process and offering several suggestions. 

The province will take the initiative to offer support to the project, which is hoped to be an institution having first-rate educational concepts and systems, generating fruitful innovations in the life sciences and medicine fields and offering great talent support for Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, said the Hainan governor.