Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, in Geneva on Sunday. [Photo by Fu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Chan thanked Wang for his government supporting the recently held global health promotion conference in China, which she says is an important step toward materializing the health objectives listed in the UN's 2030 sustainable development goals.

"China has set an excellent example in poverty-alleviation and health undertakings, and I believe it will contribute more to improve global public heath and sustainable development," Chan said.

Chan said her organization is willing to strengthen cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, which was proposed by President Xi Jinping three years ago. This year, Xi has enriched the initiative by injecting the elements of health cooperation and green developments.

In meeting with IOC President Bach in Lausanne, about a 40-minute drive from Geneva, Wang also pledged that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with his organization while upholding the Olympic spirit.

Wang said China already has successfully hosted the 2008 Olympic Games and Nanjing Youth Olympics in 2014 while being busy preparing for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

"With the all-out efforts of Chinese people and substantial help of the IOC, I am confident that the 2022 Winter Olympics will be another huge success," Wang said.

Bach showed Wang around the Olympics Museum, expressing the strong will to cooperate with China as well.

"The IOC will be a full helping hand in delivering a fruitful 2022 Winter Olympics, while expecting to team up on further cooperation with China," Bach said.