“We’re really looking forward to the introduction of monthly passes for the high-speed train between Beijing and Hohhot,” said Zhang Xiaotian with a smile, reflecting on his experiences after spending over a year working in Inner Mongolia.
I recently accompanied a reporting team on a mission called “Celebrating National Day: Discussing Collaboration and Showcasing Accomplishments” in Inner Mongolia. At the Inner Mongolia Hospital of Peking University Cancer Hospital, Executive Director Zhang Xiaotian shared his insights on the contributions of Beijing doctors to the collaboration between Beijing and Inner Mongolia.
In 1996, the central government initiated significant cooperation aimed at poverty alleviation between eastern and western regions, establishing a supportive partnership between Beijing and Inner Mongolia. Over the past 28 years, many individuals like Zhang Xiaotian have taken on roles as “builders” and “travelers,” fostering resource-sharing development and pursuing a journey toward shared prosperity.
“Efforts in healthcare are addressing the needs of the community,” Zhang noted as I entered the spacious and orderly lobby of the hospital. Patients at the consultation desk could see a display highlighting the qualifications of the experts from Beijing.
Pointing to a sign for the “Abdominal Surgery A Zone,” Zhang mentioned, “Director Ji frequently travels back and forth between Beijing and Inner Mongolia to care for our patients.” Ji Jiafu, head of the General Surgery Department and director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Center at Peking University Cancer Hospital, is also a member of the Central Committee of the Democratic League.
Since the establishment of the Inner Mongolia branch of Peking University Cancer Hospital in February last year, Ji has been making even more frequent visits to Inner Mongolia. In July, he led a team of doctors to provide free medical consultations and cancer screenings in the Abaga Banner of Xilin Gol League.
The collaboration between Beijing and Inner Mongolia has garnered support from many members of the united front. “Our hospital is home to over 20 members from various democratic parties who have greatly facilitated medical collaboration, providing practical support for local patients,” Zhang shared.
“We heard that experts from Beijing were coming, so we came right over. It took just seven days from admission to surgery,” said Wen Ruifang, a family member of a patient, reflecting on their experience at the Inner Mongolia branch of Peking University Cancer Hospital.
Wen recalled, “My father had to go to Beijing for treatment last year, which took a month and was very inconvenient for the family. Now my husband can see an expert right at our doorstep and receive professional treatment, saving us a lot of trouble.”
According to Zhang, the Inner Mongolia branch of Peking University Cancer Hospital has significantly eased the local medical service pressure in 2023, with outpatient visits rising by 63.4%, inpatient discharges by 60.67%, and surgical procedures increasing by 99.63% compared to before the collaboration began in 2022.
“To elevate medical standards, we can’t solely rely on doctors from Beijing; we also need to cultivate local talent,” shared Dr. Zhang Yi, chief physician at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, following a surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College.
Dr. Zhang’s team has set up a workspace at the Second Affiliated Hospital, enhancing local thoracic surgery standards. This year alone, the Baotou Diagnosis and Treatment Center of the Thoracic Surgery Department has performed over 90 surgeries, marking a significant increase.
“I’m currently supervising graduate students at Baotou Medical College,” Dr. Zhang said. He hopes that through research and education, he can train more medical professionals and strengthen the local workforce.
“Mutual progress through collaboration” is essential. “Once our products gain a foothold in Beijing, distributors from all over the country will come to us,” reflected Wang Wei, marketing director of Langgege Dairy Co., Ltd., based in Ulanqab City, known as the “Capital of Yogurt.” Wang frequently travels between Beijing and Inner Mongolia to expand his company’s market reach.
“Just a step west from Beijing lands you in Ulanqab,” he explained, noting that high-speed rail allows travelers to reach Ulanqab in under two hours. Capitalizing on its proximity to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei market, Langgege Dairy often chooses Beijing as the first location to promote new products. They have also partnered with China Agricultural University to deepen their research on yogurt cultures.
“Yogurt cultures are the ‘chip’ of yogurt, and many companies source theirs from abroad,” Wang explained. The initiative to develop their own strains aims to ensure independent ownership of intellectual property. Thanks to collaborations with research institutions in Beijing, they have successfully developed 26 strains that capture the distinctive qualities of grassland yogurt.
In Ulanqab, the benefits of these collaborative efforts extend beyond dairy to agriculture. Through investment from Beijing enterprise Hongfu Group, a modern agricultural industrial park has been established, featuring advanced smart greenhouses with precise irrigation systems for tomato cultivation.
“Our produce is harvested and can reach Beijing within four to six hours,” said Li Bin, operational director of the industrial park. Ulanqab cherry tomatoes are increasingly making their mark in supermarkets and agricultural markets across Beijing.
Established in 2021 with support from local government and collaboration funds, the Hongfu Industrial Park has created over 400 jobs, with nearly a quarter of its tomatoes shipped to the Beijing market.
Over the past 28 years, the cooperation between Beijing and Inner Mongolia has evolved from one-way support to a mutually beneficial exchange, broadening resource-sharing channels.
In 2022, a collaboration framework agreement was signed, and mechanisms for united front cooperation have continued to improve, resulting in the completion of 22 collaboration projects last year and another 22 confirmed for this year. Resources from the united front are increasingly being mobilized for collaborative efforts, paving the way for development and addressing the needs of the community.