BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical researchers are contributing more and more high-quality papers to the Lancet journals, the China Youth Daily quoted Helena Hui Wang, Asia executive editor of the Lancet, as saying in a Friday report.

Over the last 10 years, the Lancet has seen Chinese papers surge from a few hundred to some 1,500 annually, ranking third globally after the United Kingdom and the United States, she told the Beijing-based newspaper.

The Lancet sets universal high standards for global medical papers, Wang said, adding fundamentally, Lancet publishes papers that can bring renovation and breakthrough in clinical practice and medical policies.

Wang attributed the progress to the Chinese government's financial inputs and policy support. Official data suggested China's expenditure on research and development totaled 1.76 trillion yuan (261.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2017, the second highest in the world, said the report.

Wang marveled at China's advances of public health and medical services, which include basic medical insurance schemes, improving public health system and effective control of infectious diseases, as well as the improving health conditions of women and children.

While asking China to share its experiences with other countries and regions in this regard, she called for more initiatives to better prevent and control chronic diseases such as educating the public to foster a healthy lifestyle.