On the afternoon of October 24, Michaël Delafosse, the Mayor of Montpellier, France, led a large delegation to visit the Chengdu Women and Children’s Center Hospital. The purpose of this visit was to gain insights into Chengdu’s achievements in women’s and children’s health care, exchange relevant experiences, and explore potential collaboration.
Established as a sister city relationship in 1981, Chengdu and Montpellier were the first pair of friendly cities between China and France. The Montpellier delegation arrived in Chengdu on October 22 for a four-day visit aimed at deepening exchanges and cooperation in trade, culture, education, sports, and health, commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.
During the visit, the delegation toured various departments at the Chengdu Women and Children’s Center Hospital, including the Reproductive Health and Infertility Department, the Women’s Health Guidance Center, the Family-Oriented Ward, and the Neonatology Department. Throughout the tour, Delafosse posed questions such as, “How many days should a mother stay in the hospital after childbirth?” and “What is the current success rate of IVF?”
Delafosse expressed surprise upon learning that Wang Fang, the head of the Reproductive Health and Infertility Department, had studied in Montpellier 15 years ago. He was impressed by the department’s participation in numerous academic exchanges and medical training programs with French experts. He welcomed the idea of more medical professionals from Chengdu visiting Montpellier for further education and exchange.
In recent years, the Chengdu Women and Children’s Center Hospital has engaged in close interactions with French institutions in medical, research, and educational fields. A recently signed Memorandum of Understanding on Friendship City Cooperation between Chengdu and Montpellier for 2025-2030 aims to promote high-quality development in reproductive medicine and facilitate exchanges of obstetricians and surgeons from Chengdu to France.
During a subsequent forum, Lin Yonghong, Secretary of the Party Committee at the Chengdu Women and Children’s Center Hospital, expressed a desire to deepen cooperation with France in maternal and child health, hoping for more French obstetric and pediatric experts to visit Chengdu, as well as for more Chengdu experts to study in Montpellier.
Delafosse expressed hopes to further enhance specific cooperation with the Chengdu hospital, underscoring the importance of ensuring healthy growth for children in every family. He pledged to expedite the implementation of a mutual exchange and learning program for healthcare personnel from both sides, anticipating that on his next visit, he would witness more face-to-face interactions and learning opportunities between the professionals from the Chengdu hospital and Montpellier.
Additionally, the Chengdu Women and Children’s Center Hospital conducted an online meeting with the Montpellier University Hospital during the event. Anne Ferré, CEO of the Montpellier University Hospital, and François Lenouare, the office director, participated in the academic exchange with their counterparts in Chengdu.
