NAIROBI, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and China on Monday deepened their collaboration in the health sector, with China offering 500 scholarships and launching 20 annual exchange programs in the future.

After a meeting with a delegation led by Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health Aden Duale said in a statement that the collaboration is key to shaping the country's future health leadership.

Duale noted that the two sides had also discussed the establishment of local vaccine and pharmaceutical production hubs using Chinese technology.

The 500-million-U.S. dollar joint initiative, according to Duale, seeks to strengthen Kenya's supply chains, reduce import dependency, create employment and position the East African nation as a leader in health product manufacturing.

He also proposed the establishment of a Kenya-China Health Cooperation Taskforce to align priorities, fast-track the signing of memoranda of understanding and monitor progress.

Duale commended China's ongoing support through technology firms, which have played a key role in equipping rural health facilities and training thousands of health workers.■