Second International Forum on

Active Health and Ageing Closes in Hong Kong

The Second International Forum on Active Health and Ageing concluded today after two days of discussions at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. A major outcome of the event was the official launch of the Asian Society of Geriatric Medicine.

Held under the theme “Innovation · Collaboration · Empowerment — Hong Kong Building a Global Hub for Ageing Response,” the forum brought together nearly 300 experts and scholars from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Finland, the Netherlands and other regions. Participants from the fields of geriatric medicine, nursing, public health, biomedical engineering and the smart elderly care industry shared the latest research and practical experience.

The forum was organised by Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, co-hosted by Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Central South University, and supported by several Hong Kong and mainland universities as well as geriatric medicine societies from China, Malaysia and Thailand.

In his closing remarks, Forum Chairman Professor Zhang Cuntai of Huazhong University of Science and Technology said Asia faces complex ageing challenges, including a large population, varying levels of economic and healthcare development, and issues such as high rates of chronic disease, frailty, shortages of care resources and insufficient professional talent. He highlighted that participants reached a strong consensus on establishing a unified Asian platform for collaboration in geriatric medicine, describing it as a milestone achievement of the forum.

Zhang stressed that effective active health strategies for Asia cannot simply copy Western models. Solutions must be tailored to the physiological characteristics and sociocultural contexts of Asian populations and require collaboration across medicine, engineering, social security and industry.

Zheng Yongnan, Vice Chairman and General Manager of Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, noted that the formal launch of the Asian Society of Geriatric Medicine fills a gap in regional academic organisation for the field. He said the forum had succeeded in positioning Hong Kong as a platform that connects the mainland, links Asia and facilitates international exchange on healthy ageing.

He expressed hope that the consensus reached at the forum would be translated into practical action through continued cross-border, cross-disciplinary and industry-academia collaboration, helping older people in Asia enjoy healthier and higher-quality later years.

The forum featured keynote speeches, parallel sessions, roundtable discussions and a dedicated youth scholars’ session. An award for outstanding papers by young researchers was also presented, underscoring the importance of nurturing the next generation of talent in geriatric medicine.