On 27-28 June, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) joined global health leaders in Xi’an, China, for the 6th Belt and Road Initiative Global Health International Congress and 2026 University Alliance of the Silk Road Global Health Forum.
Organised under the theme “Digital Intelligence Empowerment, Shared Resources, and Collaborative Health Promotion”, the congress brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss shared responses to urgent global health challenges, including diabetes, obesity, chronic disease prevention, healthy ageing and health equity.
As part of the programme, IDF Executive Director Charlotte Wilming presented the Federation’s work to improve diabetes prevention, care, education and support for people living with diabetes across countries and regions. She emphasised that for diabetes management to be effective, governance must extend beyond disease management to address quality of life, equity and access to care.
“Diabetes is not just a clinical challenge. It affects people’s quality of life, their dignity and their ability to access the care and support they need. If we want to improve outcomes for people living with diabetes, we need to work together – governments, health systems, professional organisations, communities and people with lived experience. It is only through this kind of shared action that we can make sure care, education and support reach everyone who needs them.” Charlotte Wilming, IDF Executive Director.
The congress featured 25 thematic forums and welcomed 190 experts from 16 countries and four international organisations, as well as around 600 participants from universities, research institutions, healthcare institutions, academic societies, and related sectors in China. The opening ceremony and keynote forum were livestreamed on major platforms, attracting over 1.6 million viewers.
China currently has the highest number of adults aged 20 to 79 living with diabetes in the world, as well as the second-highest total diabetes-related health expenditure globally. In 2024, an estimated 148 million adults in China were living with diabetes. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to 168 million, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen diabetes prevention, care, education and support across the country.
The event was jointly hosted by Xi’an Jiaotong University, the Health Sub-Alliance of the University Alliance of the Silk Road, the Obesity Prevention and Control Branch of the Chinese Nutrition Society and partner institutions, with support from organisations including IDF, the World Obesity Federation, WHO and the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association.
Through its participation, IDF reaffirmed its vision to advance diabetes prevention, improve access to care and promote healthier, more equitable communities worldwide.
