The Chinese and French medical teams who separately made history when they carried out the world's first two partial face-transplants have agreed to co-operate on the new procedure, the lead doctor from the Chinese side said yesterday.

"I met with Philippe Domy, director of French Amiens Hospital on November 26 in Xi'an. Domy's hospital carried out the world's first partial face-transplant operation. We were both strongly interested in co-operating on face transplants," said Guo Shuzhong, director of Plastic Surgery Department of Xi'an Xijing Hospital in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Guo, a plastic surgery expert and professor at Xi'an Fourth Military Medical University, was part of the team that carried out China's first and the world's second partial face transplant in April. The recipient was Li Guoxing, a 30-year-old farmer whose face had been disfigured by a bear.

"Though we did not discuss the details, the Chinese and French teams agreed to co-operate on basic research in plastic surgery, and since the French side has better research conditions and equipment, they will provide technical training to our young doctors at their hospital," Guo said.

He added that the French hospital had received approval to carry out five more partial face transplants, and that they hoped the Chinese team could take part in the future operations.

"We have both carried out successful partial face transplants, and we both have advanced technology and rich experience in the field. Theirs was the world's first, but ours was more difficult because we had to rebuild bones. I believe our co-operation will greatly promote plastic surgery and benefit our patients," he said.

"I met with Bernard Devauchelle, the doctor who carried out the world's first face transplant, at a seminar in Brazil last month. We exchanged experiences and expected to co-operate in the future," Guo said.

(China Daily December 12, 2006)