Nazarbayev University (NU), together with the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan and GX Foundation, hosted the seminar “Global Medical Frontiers: Innovation, Resilience and Sharing.”
The event brought together leading medical experts from China and other countries, as well as more than 100 representatives of the healthcare and business communities. Participants discussed the latest developments and emerging trends in medical science and healthcare practice, medical education and training, public health systems, and the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in medicine.
First Vice Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan Timur Sultangaziev highlighted Kazakhstan’s interest in learning from new initiatives developed by its partners, as well as in strengthening cooperation and sharing expertise.
“Kazakhstan is interested in strengthening its scientific base, and we are ready to share our experience and develop projects that can be implemented across Central Asia. This seminar will be much more than an exchange of experience. It will allow us to identify areas where we can work together and achieve common results. Our shared goal is simple: to make healthcare systems more resilient, accessible and effective,” said the First Vice Minister.
GX Foundation Chairman CY Leung thanked the invited experts for taking part in the event. He also highlighted NU’s role in the history of the Belt and Road Initiative and in developing cooperation with GX Foundation.
“Thirteen years ago, President Xi Jinping first introduced the concepts of jointly building the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ and strengthening ‘people-to-people connectivity’ at NU, which contributed to the establishment and development of GX. Today, we are pleased to hold this seminar as part of the collaboration between GX and NU, and we look forward to building further on what we have achieved together,” he said.
NU Vice President for Medicine and Dean of the School of Medicine Professor Huck-Hui Ng said the seminar was one of the practical outcomes of NU’s collaboration with partners from Hong Kong and provided an opportunity to further exchange knowledge and expertise.
“Today’s seminar is one example of how we are putting our agreement into practice. We have brought a large delegation from Hong Kong, including leading experts in medicine and education. This is the beginning of our work to share knowledge and experience,” said Professor.
He noted that the training of highly qualified healthcare professionals is one of the key areas of cooperation.
“Improving the quality of healthcare requires more than funding, equipment or medicines. The most important factor is human capital. It is essential to train medical researchers, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals,” Professor Huck-Hui Ng added.
The seminar also placed particular focus on the potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare. According to Professor, digital technologies can help improve access to medical services in Kazakhstan, particularly given the country’s vast territory and low population density in some regions.
The event also saw the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): between NU and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to strengthen cooperation in medicine, including global health, medical humanitarian work, clinical research training and diabetes care; and between NU and Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) to promote academic and cultural exchange in education, research and other areas. The MoUs were signed by Prof. Huck Hui Ng on behalf of NU, Prof. Justin Wu on behalf of CUHK, and Prof. Paul Kwong-Hang Tam on behalf of MUST.
The seminar built on the cooperation launched following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NU and GX Foundation in November 2025. The agreement established a framework for professional and academic exchanges, joint activities, internships and collaborative research.
Participants also discussed medical innovation, health system resilience and humanitarian medical assistance, as well as opportunities for further international cooperation. GX Foundation is an international non-profit organisation based in Hong Kong that provides humanitarian assistance in medicine and public health across countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
