Distinguished guests and speakers presided over the inaugural ceremony of the Healthy Ageing Conference 2023, including Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU (centre); Mr Zhang Hui, Counsellor (DG level) from the Department of Ageing and Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (fourth from right); Dr Ronald Lam, Director of Health from the Department of Health of the HKSAR Government (fourth from left); Prof. David Shum, Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of PolyU (third from right); Prof. Engle Angela Chan, Interim Head of the School of Nursing of PolyU (third from left); Prof. Zheng Yongping, Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing of PolyU (second from right); Dr Hiromasa Okayasu, Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (second from left); Dr Arnold Wong, Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU, (first from right); Prof. Angela Yee-man Leung, Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services, School of Nursing of PolyU (first from left).

Population ageing is a pressing priority in the Western Pacific region, home to one of the world's largest and fastest-growing elderly populations. In October, the Healthy Ageing Conference 2023 was successfully held in Hong Kong. Organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services of the School of Nursing of PolyU, and co-organised by the Department of Health of the HKSAR, RISA, and the PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the conference laid a solid foundation for implementing an action plan on healthy ageing for the region. Ultimately, the goal is to realise the visions outlined in the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) and create a healthier, more inclusive future for older individuals and their communities.