A file photo shows Xie Zheng, deputy director and associate  professor of the Global Health Department at Peking University in an interview. [Beijing Women's Federation]

Xie Zheng, a scholar in global health, bid farewell to the world at a hospital in Beijing on June 4, 2020, to the shock of her many friends and colleagues. She was only in her 40s, and lost her life to cancer.

"Her optimistic and strong appearance always misled us that her condition was not serious and that she would soon return to us," said one of her students.

All sorts of people sent their condolences and cherished the memory of Xie. What were their impressions of her?

A Strict but Helpful Teacher

"She was a perfectionist in school and at the academy who required us not to make mistakes even with a punctuation mark, and always pushed us to study hard," said Yan Shurui, a student of Xie's.

Xie was concerned about her students and cared for them just like an elder sister in daily life. However, she was serious about their academic research.

The teacher influenced the students' academic attitude, working habits and spirit of cooperation, 
which benefited them a lot.

"Sometimes it would be hard for me to listen to her criticism, but it was in this way that I made rapid progress, and I am very grateful to her," a student added. 

Xie was strict not only to her students but also to herself. She often stayed up working late even after being diagnosed with cancer, according to her father.

Pioneer for Global Health Research

"She was never a utilitarian, but a diligent pioneer in the discipline of global health," remarked Guo Yan, Xie's doctoral tutor. In his view, Xie's dedication and love for her career are rare among ordinary young people. 

Global health is an emerging discipline in China. Faced with unprecedented challenges, Xie went to study abroad to make a fresh start. She didn't stop working even on holidays.

Aware of the necessity to provide the young people a teaching base in a real global environment, 
Xie devoted herself to planning and promoting the establishment of a research and teaching base in Lilongwe, Malawi, in 2017.

She also went to the country several times, leading students into local populations and carrying out field research, where her enthusiasm and romance for research touched and inspired all around her.

"There is nothing more memorable than feeling the wind of the Indian Ocean blowing and sitting on the shore of Lake Malawi to watch the sunrise and sunset, with Nsima for breakfast in hand," Xie once said on a social media account to record her feelings.

One of her students, Wang Qi, now a worker in a hospital, thanked Xie for broadening their horizons and bringing them new thoughts while recalling those days in Africa.

Warrior Fighting for Human Health

Combating malaria in African countries was one of Xie's most concentrated research areas. Her research on malaria management attracted the attention of the Malaria Division of WHO, causing it to reach out to her in June 2018.

Notably, Xie evaluated China's aid to Africa in the field of malaria in depth, and offered 
recommendations to various parties involved. She also caught the attention of one of the world's leading publishers in science and technology who invited her to prepare a monograph on the subject.

Xie, also an expert on the issue of WHO's reform in global health governance, is the only domestic specialist who has participated in the negotiation of the WHO Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors, according to Liu Peilong, director of the Global Health Department at Peking University and the first chairperson of the Chinese Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CCUGH). 

As the pandemic spread at the beginning of the year, Xie offered consultation services on 
coping strategies. She was also invited as a special commentator of the China Central Television to interpret the international situation and the world's progress in epidemic containment. 

Liu said that she also planned to conduct research on a multilateral mechanism for sharing access to research on pathogens of biogenetic resources and the resulting benefits, and put forward suggestions at the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, but unfortunately it turned out to be her last wish.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)