International Committee of the Red Cross head begins China visit

Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, arrived in Beijing on Monday on her first official visit to China.

During her four-day tour, Spoljaric will have a series of meetings with senior officials of the Red Cross Society of China, and the government departments, academics and think tanks, according to ICRC.

"I highly value the strategic and multidimensional nature of the ICRC's relationship with China", she said ahead of the visit.

"During my visit, I look forward to discussing ways and means to enhance the global respect and compliance of international humanitarian law and to increase the collaboration between ICRC and China to bring humanitarian assistance for conflict affected communities."

In Beijing, Spoljaric will attend a ceremony aimed at paying tribute to seven Chinese nurses awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal — the highest international distinction for a nurse, as well as inaugurating a photo exhibition to mark the 160th founding anniversary of the ICRC and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Spoljaric will also visit Suzhou, Jiangsu province, for an event hosted by the International Academy of Red Cross and Red Crescent at the Soochow University.