"This paper examines international health cooperation globally, and for China particularly, to provide information for international communities and their partner counties. It seeks to improve the harmony and effectiveness of international health cooperation from its foundations in order to develop specific policy actions. The paper reviews international cooperation on health, analysing its history and current trends, its importance and influencing factors, and the main players and challenges, particularly in China. Based on an extensive literature review and face to face interviews, this paper begins with an overall picture of global international cooperation on health, then analyses the current situation of international cooperation conducted in China. It outlines the benefits, needs and opportunities of international health cooperation in China and finally explores the major challenges this entails. The paper can be used as a resource for international cooperation on health for the growing numbers of public health professionals who are exploring issues related to international health cooperation. It also serves as a common platform for discussing the current situation and possible new directions for international health cooperation, particularly in China, and provides a body of useful knowledge and possible solutions for policymakers, researchers and international partners alike. The findings suggest as the next step conducting a further and more in-depth study of strategies necessary to address the influencing factors identified in this study, in order to enhance international health cooperation by Chinese agencies"--P. 1.