The Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mr. Zhang Yaping, visited the “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA” Children’s Oncology Unit on Friday, 25 January 2019, accompanied by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Mrs. Qiyue Zhang, and a team of Chinese scientists.
Mr. Yaping and Mrs. Zhang were greeted by the President of the “ELPIDA-Association of Friends of Children with cancer,” Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, and the Director of “Agia Sofia” and “P&A KYRIAKOU” Children’s Hospitals, Mr. Manolis Papasavvas.
The visit was carried out in the context of the formal visit of a delegation from the Chinese Academy to our country, at the invitation of the Academy of Athens.
The purpose of the visit to the Children’s Oncology Unit was to discuss future collaboration on research programmes and the Twinning of the Children’s Oncology Unit with the largest Oncology Hospital of the People’s Republic of China.
“Your visit today is very important, because in this manner, an international network is created for fighting childhood cancer. Your assistance and support give us even more power to continue this effort. Familiar with the great and pioneering work of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, we are truly proud because today the foundation is being laid for an important collaboration,” Mrs. Vardinoyannis stated, greeting the Chinese scientists.
Mr. Papasavvas presented the work of the Children’s Oncology Unit in detail. “This Unit is unique in the country, and we are truly proud because 3 out of 4 children who are treated presently are cured. The Unit will soon be a Centre of Excellence with a goal of curing all children who are treated.”
In recognition of the support of the work of “ELPIDA,” Mrs. Vardinoyannis gave honorary plaques to the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China and to the Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Chinese Ambassador, having thanked Mrs. Vardinoyannis for the great honour, stated: “Congratulations are in order for this work, and I am truly proud of the collaboration that will result from today’s visit. Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis is a truly unique person, and I am very happy to be here today.”
The Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences stressed the importance of concluding a collaboration between the two organisations. “Such a collaboration is mutually beneficial. Such actions support friendship between our two countries. Two countries with great history and a culture centred around the value of humanism.”
Immediately afterwards, the group of Chinese scientists were given a tour of the Oncology Unit and were briefed in detail about the Unit’s work and all the steps that have been taken to fight childhood cancer.