Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Liangyu met a delegation led by John P. Howe, President and CEO of Project Hope, at the Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel yesterday.
Party Secretary Chen thanked Project Hope, a non-profit, community-based human service agency, for its contributions to the city's medical sector and the establishment of the Shanghai Children's Medical Center.
Chen also gave details on the development of the local health sector in the recent past. Since China adopted the opening and reform policy, Shanghai has seen rapid and steady economic growth, with improved living standards and health services. The city will continue to improve medical services, especially in rural areas, in the future, Chen said, adding that Project Hope is expected to offer more support to Shanghai and more opportunities for the city to learn from the experiences of developed countries.
President Howe thanked the city for its hospitality and said they will continue to support the Shanghai Children's Medical Center, with cooperation expected to expand into other fields.
Project Hope and the city decided to cooperate in establishing the center in 1989, and it opened in 1998. The center has become a diagnostic center for complex diseases affecting children in China and even Southeast Asia as well as a training base for Chinese pediatricians.