Zhong Nanshan speaks during the ceremony marking the completion of the center's main structure on Oct 18. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

The respiratory center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University has finished construction of its main structure on Oct 18 and is scheduled to be put into operation in June 2021.

Located in Guangzhou's Liwan district, the center covers a building area of around 217,158 square meters and will be able to offer 1,200 patient beds. The center is divided into two parts, with the east part consisting of a 15-floor building for national key laboratories, a six-floor academic and scientific research building, as well as a two-floor academic communications center.

The design sketch of the respiratory center. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

Huang Jinkun, director of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, noted that the center will aspire to be a leader in the world for the academic research, clinical treatment, talent cultivation, and scientific innovation of respiratory diseases, following the lead of Zhong Nanshan, the renowned Chinese respiratory expert.

"I hope the hospital can make full use of the center to attract more projects and talent, making more contributions to the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases, as well as the prevention and control of major respiratory infectious diseases," said Zhong during the ceremony on Oct 18.