BAMAKO, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Mali and the 30th Chinese medical team to Mali on Monday jointly launched a series of health and cultural exchange activities in Bamako.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Mali Li Xiang said health is a common aspiration of humanity, while culture serves as a bridge for mutual learning among civilizations.

Noting that this year marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Li said the activities are a concrete step to implement relevant initiatives under the framework of the year, adding that China stands ready to take the opportunity to further deepen cooperation with Mali in such fields as public health and medical care.

Sanata Sogoba, director of the Hospital of Mali, thanked the Chinese side for the long-standing support for Mali's health sector and paid tribute to the professionalism and dedication of the Chinese medical team.

She said the exchange activities, which combine medical technology sharing, health knowledge promotion, and people-to-people communication, will play a positive role in improving local diagnosis and treatment capacity as well as public health awareness.

The launch ceremony was followed by a seminar, which focused on weight management, the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. ■