On 4 November 2017, H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) attended the World Academic Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Shenzhen and delivered remarks. The Conference, under the theme of "Constitutional Medicine and Healthy Life Cycle", was hosted by the Specialty Committee of Constitutional Medicine of World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) and organized by Shenzhen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM). Professor She Jing, founding President of the WFCMS and former Vice Minister of Health of China, Professor Wang Qi, President of the Specialty Committee of Constitutional Medicine of WFCMS, Mr. Wu Zhendou, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mr. Dong Zhilin, Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Medicine Forum, relevant leaders of Shenzhen as well as experts in TCM from China and abroad, altogether around 300 people, participated in the conference.
Professor Shejing, Professor Wangqi, Deputy Director General Wu Zhendou delivered remarks at the conference. They said that health is the common goal of human. As the treasure of Chinese civilization, TCM has made great contribution to the prosperity of the Chinese nation and the development of the world civilization. The integration of Chinese and western medicine has mutually promoted the development of each other and greatly enhanced the health of the people. At present, TCM has been introduced into 183 countries and regions with increasing international influence. Chinese government attaches great importance to the TCM. China has issued the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Traditional Chinese Medicine" and a series of policies, made the "Planning on the Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in accordance with the Belt and Road Initiative 2016-2020", actively explored to set up overseas TCM centres. All these have brought new opportunities to the development of TCM and its international cooperation. They hoped that all experts could take this conference as an opportunity, continue to strengthen exchanges and information sharing, undertake broad and in-depth cooperation and fully make use of strength of TCM, to jointly advance the comprehensive development of TCM and continuously raise the level of public health service.
Secretary-General Yang Xiuping briefed on the development of ASEAN-China relations and ACC's work. She said health is the foundation for the development of a nation and the well-being of its people. TCM, encompassing broad and profound knowledge, with its unique strengths, has gained greater popularity among the people across the world. Some ASEAN countries have started to promote TCM education, increase its market access, provide TCM services and carry out TCM studies. Both sides have successfully held the China-ASEAN Summit Forum on Traditional Medicine, jointly issued the China-ASEAN Traditional Medicine Exchange and Cooperation Proposal to actively promote cooperation on preservation of traditional medicine resources, scientific research and personnel training.
Secretary-General Yang outlined ACC’s efforts in actively supporting the exchanges and cooperation in health sector between ASEAN and China. In recent years, ACC has supported and participated in ASEAN-China Traditional Medicine and Health Tourism International Forum, co-hosted the Traditional Medicine and Health Professional Education Forum, and organized the "Cultural Tour on ASEAN-China Traditional Medicine Exchange" in Thailand and Lao PDR. ACC would continue to play its role as a one-stop information and activities centre to promote the ASEAN-China cooperation in TCM and benefit both peoples.
At the Conference, all participants had in-depth exchanges on subjects, namely, Healthy Life Cycle, Constitutional Medicine, Quality of Traditional Medicine, Disease Prevention, Health Care, etc., shared the latest research results in related areas, and gave suggestions to the future development of TCM and its international cooperation. All participants wished to further expand cooperation with ASEAN countries in TCM through mutually learning to jointly advance the theory research and improve the practical techniques, and make new contribution to human health.