The 78th World Health Assembly concluded Tuesday with the adoption of a global pandemic agreement and a $4.2bn base budget for 2026–2027.

The WHO hailed the agreement, the result of over three years of negotiations post-COVID-19, as a major step toward stronger global pandemic preparedness. The budget, based on the Fourteenth General Program of Work, was reduced from an earlier $5.3bn proposal, according to Xinhua.

The Assembly also passed on measures concerning health funding, traditional medicine, air pollution, antibiotic resistance, maternal and child nutrition, and health workforce development.

Chinese vice Premier Liu Guozhong attended the Assembly, where China took part in over 70 agenda items and organized side events, Xinhua reported.