Prof. WANG Chunhui, Qixin Scholar (Chair Professorship) of NingboTech University and director and chief expert of the Research Base for Cyberspace Governance and Rule of Law in Digital Economy, delivered a keynote speech about how to raise institutional voices in public health security at the first Lancang-Mekong Sub-Region Forum on International Rule of Law held on March 12. Organized by China Behavioral Law Society, Yunnan Law Society and Yunnan Police College with the assistance of the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center, the forum focuses on the rule of law in international cooperation on public health security as efforts are being made to establish the Lancang-Mekong sub-region community of a shared future. 50 guests from international organizations, government departments, research institutions and universities attended the event.

Prof. WANG, having taken part in the review of international multilateral treaties of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) for many times, put forward his thoughts on raising the institutional voices in international public health security. He pointed out that to improve global governance on public health security, communication and cooperation in areas like politics, economy, the rule of law, science and technology, and information should be strengthened. Special attention should be paid to the improvement of the rule of law mechanism for international public health security and the institutional reform of global governance on public health security.

He mentioned that China, applauded by the international community for its rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures taken in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, should raise the institutional voices in international public health security by fully leveraging its advanced governance system and wisdom. He then put forth a three-point definition of international public health security: first, the state power to define public health security or major international public security events; second, the state power to formulate the international public health security system and the rules of the game; third, the state power to decide upon the merits of matters in international public health security.

Prof. WANG believed that global governance on public health security is at a crucial juncture of transformation as the old governance structure and system can no longer meet new development needs. It's been an important and urgent strategic task for China to take active part in global public health governance system and shape the image of a major country by building its voice system, especially institutional voices, in global governance on public health.