He salutes medical workers' crucial role, says their sacrifices benefit all

President Xi Jinping called on Friday for greater understanding for medical workers, to help create an atmosphere that respects doctors and acknowledges the importance of hygiene and health work.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark in an instruction ahead of the first Chinese Medical Workers' Day, which falls on Sunday.

Xi said medical workers have traditionally carried forward the spirit of reverence for life, healing the injured and rescuing or bringing comfort to the dying, and their sacrifices have hugely benefited the public.

Medical workers play an important role in areas such as preventing and treating diseases, cultivating medical talent and developing medical technology, and fruitful results have been achieved, he said.

When faced with infectious diseases or helping survivors of natural disasters, medical personnel have been undeterred and risked their own lives to save others, Xi said, noting that this has won praise from society.

Xi also called on medical workers to carry forward the humanitarian spirit to save lives, and to make further contributions to promoting people's health.

In November, the State Council, China's Cabinet, approved designating Aug 19 as Chinese Medical Workers' Day.

Its establishment reflected the importance that the CPC Central Committee attaches to hygiene and health work, as well as its recognition of the excellent performance of medical workers, Xi said.

Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan extended Xi's holiday greetings to the country's health workers when visiting and talking with medical staff in Beijing Haidian Hospital on Friday.

Sun said she hoped Chinese Medical Workers' Day could be a new starting point for them to promote public health and well-being with high-quality services.

She also urged governments and departments at all levels to implement the decision of the Party's Central Committee and the State Council, so that the hard work of medical workers is recognized.

Deng Liqiang, legal affairs director of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, said Chinese Medical Workers' Day, different from International Nurses Day or World Teachers' Day, reflects the country's particular care for China's medical staff.

Xi has always stressed a People-centered approach in his governance philosophy, and this instruction is a reflection of this philosophy, Deng said, adding, "It also shows the importance Xi attaches to public health."

Deng also said he hoped Chinese Medical Workers' Day could encourage medical workers to make efforts in building a more harmonious relationship between doctors and patients.