From May 24 to 25, Dr. Iwan Dakota, President of the Indonesian National Cardiovascular Center, led a delegation to visit Rizhao Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University /Rizhao International Heart Hospital. During the visit, both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a collaborative plan for cardiovascular medical services, education, and research.
Indonesia, as the largest economy in Southeast Asia, with a population exceeding 270 million, ranks as the fourth most populous country globally and the 16th largest economy by GDP. With the advancement of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, Sino-Indonesian cooperation has deepened in various fields, including infrastructure and bilateral trade. The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is a flagship project of this collaboration, and trade between the two nations has steadily increased, with China being Indonesia’s largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years. In recent years, high-level exchanges have strengthened, with Indonesian President Joko Widodo visiting China multiple times and China remaining a key investor in Indonesia.
The Indonesian National Cardiovascular Center, Harapan Kita, is the largest public cardiovascular hospital in Indonesia and serves as a regional center for cardiovascular treatment in Southeast Asia. As a national-level heart hospital, it is committed to treating cardiovascular diseases, conducting research, and training professionals across the country’s 200+ hospitals. This new collaboration marks a significant step forward in international cooperation on cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, further advancing the "Health Silk Road" initiative.
Rizhao Vice Mayor Ma Weiqiang warmly welcomed Dr. Iwan Dakota and his delegation. He emphasized the beauty of Rizhao, a coastal city with over 100 kilometers of golden coastline. The Rizhao Heart Hospital, led by Academician Ge Junbo, has made significant contributions to local healthcare, and the collaboration with the Indonesian National Cardiovascular Center promises to deepen medical cooperation between the two institutions.
During the visit, Dr. Iwan Dakota praised the hospital’s advanced facilities, professional medical team, and achievements in heart disease treatment. He expressed hope for further collaboration between the two hospitals. The delegation toured various hospital departments, including the outpatient building, wards, and catheterization labs.
On May 25, Song Xin, Chairman of Rizhao International Heart Hospital, and department leaders held discussions with Dr. Iwan Dakota on the details of the collaboration. Dr. Iwan Dakota highlighted Indonesia’s cardiovascular disease challenges and the need for a national prevention network, noting that Indonesia plans to build 500 new hospitals but lacks specialized cardiovascular doctors. Song Xin emphasized Rizhao Heart Hospital's dedication to cardiovascular disease prevention and research, with the hospital performing over 10,000 surgeries, many of which were firsts in Shandong Province. The hospital agreed to accept three Indonesian doctors for training.
Both sides discussed plans for doctor training, establishing a friendly hospital relationship, holding regular cardiovascular medicine conferences, exchanging medical experts for short-term visits, and collaborating on research. They expressed a strong desire for in-depth cooperation to complement each other's strengths and share resources.
At the meeting, Song Xin and Dr. Iwan Dakota formally signed the MOU, establishing long-term cooperation in cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment, education, and research. This partnership aims to bring tangible benefits to both Indonesian and Chinese people, improving healthcare in both countries.
The Rizhao International Heart Hospital is actively responding to China’s "Belt and Road" health cooperation initiative. Through this collaboration with the Indonesian National Cardiovascular Center, the hospital seeks to advance the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, benefiting people in both countries and contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global cardiovascular health.
No. 1 Linyi Road, Rizhao City, Shandong Province (Opposite the Municipal Technician College)
