Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, impressed the world at the Global Health Forum of Boao Forum for Asia held earlier this month, according to the event's organizers.

As the host city of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in June 2018, Qingdao was able to again stage a unique, well-organized and effective event.

Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, president of the forum and former director-general of the World Health Organization, said the city government made great efforts in helping the public get a better understanding of health and to live a healthy lifestyle.

The three-day event had multiple academic subforums, dialogues, roadshows and a major exhibition, open free to the public.

"More than 10,000 people visited the exhibition, which shows its great influence," she said. "The hospitality of the locals, the beautiful landscape and fast progress of Qingdao left a deep influence on attendees from around the world."

Li Baodong, secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia, said Qingdao provided good logistics and support during the forum. "The volunteers and employees were professional. It has first-class services and venues. The city is very suitable for such high-level events. We like attending meetings here."

The Qingdao West Coast New Area set up nine work teams to organize the forum, including its opening ceremony, subforums, group photos, venue decoration and facility maintenance. Security, food safety, fire safety, special equipment, medical care and power and communications supply were all taken into consideration. A total of 199 young volunteers provided consultancy services day and night, which won praise from attendees.

Han Seung-soo, former South Korean prime minister, said the fame and reputation of Qingdao saw significant growth after it hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. As a coastal city with a developed health industry, it's a suitable host for the health forum, he said.

Jenny Shipley, former prime minister of New Zealand, agreed saying Qingdao is a beautiful city that has made great effort in improving people's livelihoods.

Singapore's Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said Qingdao showed its core strength in hosting such events.

Qingdao has built upon its successes in the health sector in recent years.

Construction work has begun on the University of Rehabilitation Studies in Qingdao, according to Zhang Haidi, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation.

Deng Yaping, China's four-time Olympic table tennis champion, said physical exercise is an indispensable part of health and that is something she has seen in Qingdao. "The local people love sports and the city has reasonable layout of fitness facilities."

Qingdao will hold the health forum again next year, further boosting its development in medical care and the health industry.