WHO and UNDP Support China-Viet Nam Partnership for Cleaner Air and Healthier Lives

More blue skies, fewer days of haze, and cleaner air to breathe when walking or exercising outdoors. These everyday changes show what better air quality means for people’s lives. How can cleaner air move from a goal to tangible, lasting improvements? The answer lies in integrating health into air pollution control, using scientific evidence to inform decisions, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration and long-term investment. International exchange and cooperation also offer opportunities to explore approaches suited to national contexts.

On 22–23 September 2026, a high-level delegation led by Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, Vice Minister of Health of Viet Nam, visited China to exchange experience and best practices on tackling air pollution and protecting health. The programme brought together senior government officials including from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Viet Nam, health and environment officials from cities including Ha Noi, public health leaders, environmental experts, researchers and development partners from China and Viet Nam.

Jointly supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Development Programme country offices in China and Viet Nam, the study visit provided an important platform for learning across countries and sectors. Participants discussed the role of the health sector in generating evidence to inform decision-making and protect public health, China’s experience in air pollution governance, the importance of supporting the green and low-carbon energy transition and  coordinated regional approaches to air pollution control. The programme combined policy dialogue with field visits and thematic discussions to share practical experience and explore approaches to implementation. This initiative represents a unique, joint collaboration between the WHO and UNDP country offices in both China and Viet Nam, showcasing how inter-agency and cross-border partnership can effectively mobilize resources to address shared regional environmental and health challenges.

Integrating health into air pollution control

The visit came at an important moment for Viet Nam. Air pollution remains a major environmental and public health challenge, affecting health and productivity and imposing economic costs on households and society. Viet Nam’s national action plan for 2026–2030 has established clear air-quality objectives.

“Air pollution is posing significant public health concerns in Viet Nam,” Vice Minister of Health Huong said during the visit.

On 22 September, at the opening seminar jointly held by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and WHO China, experts from Viet Nam outlined the country’s ongoing work and challenges. Chinese experts shared China’s overall policy roadmap for air pollution control, along with experience in health-impact monitoring and intervention, evidence-informed policy-making, collaboration across sectors and public participation.

Discussions highlighted the importance of linking pollution control with health protection, strengthening collaboration across ministries and relevant technical agencies, and ensuring that scientific evidence translates into effective policies and public action.

Driving sustained improvements through scientific evidence and cross-sector collaboration

Speaking at the seminar, WHO Representative to China Mr Martin Taylor emphasized that China’s experience demonstrates what can be achieved through strong political commitment, clear targets, coordinated action across sectors, robust monitoring, scientific evidence and sustained implementation.

“Beijing provides a striking example. From 2013 to 2025, annual concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, fell by nearly 70%,” said Mr Taylor.

He encouraged participants to consider not only what worked, but also why it worked, including how sectors collaborated, how evidence informed decisions and how progress was measured.

Deepening cooperation to turn learning into action

The visit also helped advance longer-term cooperation. During a high-level meeting on 23 September, the leader of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration met with the delegation from Viet Nam. The health leaders from China and Viet Nam exchanged views on deepening cooperation. Both countries expressed their commitment to closer collaboration on climate change, environment and health, surveillance, early warning and response, and other areas of health. The visit also provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the two sides through the signing of a memorandum of understanding on disease control and prevention. 

During the visit, the delegation also held discussions and exchanges with the Beijing Municipal Disease Prevention and Control Administration, the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, and the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, on issues such as air pollution and health risk prevention and control as well as building of cross-departmental coordination mechanisms. The delegation also visited the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Monitoring Center on-site.

Clean air is fundamental to health. It is also essential for sustainable development, climate resilience and a more equitable future.

WHO has made air pollution, climate change and health a global priority. At the 78th World Health Assembly, Member States overwhelmingly endorsed a new voluntary target: halving the health impacts of air pollution by 2040 compared to 2015 levels.

The study visit provided a valuable opportunity for mutual learning and stronger partnerships. By sharing scientific evidence, practical experience and practical solutions, China and Viet Nam can turn knowledge into action and national progress into wider regional and global benefits.

WHO is proud to support this cooperation and looks forward to working with all partners to turn commitments into sustained action to improve air quality and protect public health.

The visit is supported by the partnership between the Prudence Foundation and the WHO Foundation, advancing WHO's work on climate and health resilience in Viet Nam.