The Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and the fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, together with other partners, signed a framework agreement to establish the Guangzhou Barcelona International Hospital in Huangpu district on Aug 5, the first Sino-Spanish joint medical project in China.

The other partners include the administration of Huangpu district and Guangzhou Development District, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of University of Barcelona, and Silver Mountain Capital.

The partners will also build one or two high-end Pantheon Clinics in Huangpu.

The new hospital and clinics will connect with foreign commercial insurances and serve both local residents and employees, including employees of more than 3,400 foreign-funded firms in the district.

Guangzhou Medical University and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of University of Barcelona will cooperate in student training and research.

The Hospital Clinic of Barcelona is one of the best medical institutions in Spain in medical service, research and innovation, said Jose M Campistol, CEO of the hospital. "It's a good opportunity to have an international project here in Guangzhou."

The details of the new hospital are expected to be worked out in the next six months and it is expected to open in about three years, with 400 beds, Campistol said.

The cooperation should enhance the international profile of Guangzhou Medical University, the management of its affiliated hospitals and its contribution to the health-care sector, said Wang Xinhua, president of the university.

The signing ceremony of the Sino-Spanish medical project is held on Sept 5 in Guangzhou. [ Photo/chinanews.com]