NANJING -- The second health ministers forum between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries was held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province on Monday.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka attended the opening ceremony.

Liu said the health sector cooperation will inject new impetus for the "16+1 cooperation." The "16+1" refers to China and the 16 CEE countries.

The forum concluded with the release of a joint communique, which declared the establishment of the China-CEE federation for the promotion of health cooperation.

China, the CEE countries and other nations will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the health sector and take coordinated action to safeguard the health rights of all and cope with global health threats such as SARS, bird flu and Ebola, according to the communique.