Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Congress of Traditional Medicine and delivered a speech

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 17th: On the morning of October 17th, Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Congress of Traditional Medicine in Beijing and delivered a speech.

Li Qiang said that as President Xi Jinping pointed out in his congratulatory letter to the 2024 World Congress of Traditional Medicine, traditional medicine is the result of human civilization and needs to be protected and passed down from generation to generation. It also needs to keep pace with the times, keep integrity and innovate. In today's era, how should traditional medicine better play its role? Based on the development practice of traditional Chinese medicine, I would like to share with you some experiences and thoughts.

First, traditional medicine is a unique force that protects human health and promotes the progress of civilization. Traditional medicine comes from thousands of years of production and life practice. It is the crystallization of wisdom accumulated by humans in fighting against diseases and coexisting with nature. After long-term development, the connotation of traditional medicine continues to be enriched, and its functions and missions are increasingly expanded. It has become an important magic weapon for protecting life and health, an important carrier for inheriting diverse civilizations, and an important link for enhancing friendship between countries.

Second, China’s traditional medicine has developed a unique development path in long-term practice. The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the development of traditional Chinese medicine. We adhere to integrity and innovation, not only adhering to the "root" and "soul" of traditional Chinese medicine, but also using modern technology to promote the creative transformation and innovative application of traditional Chinese medicine. We have strengthened policy support and actively promoted the widespread application of traditional Chinese medicine in medical institutions at all levels and in various diagnosis and treatment scenarios. We focus on being eclectic and learn from the advanced concepts and techniques of excellent traditional medicine from various countries. These valuable experiences also provide useful reference for the development of traditional medicine in the world.

Third, we should jointly promote the new development of traditional medicine by focusing on the challenges of the times. The international community should strengthen collaboration, integrate and make good use of the world's traditional medicine resources, and jointly respond to challenges facing human health. It is necessary to strengthen technological empowerment and accelerate the innovative development of traditional medicine. China will promote the digital and intelligent transformation of traditional Chinese medicine and encourage and support the active participation of Chinese and foreign research institutions and enterprises. It is necessary to deepen exchanges and cooperation and gather synergy for the development of traditional medicine. China will continue to expand the pilot program of opening up medical services and is willing to work with all parties to promote the construction of the "Belt and Road" medicinal resource conservation center. It is necessary to promote universal benefit sharing and better promote global health equity. China will fulfill its responsibilities within its capabilities and contribute to bridging the global health gap.

Li Qiang pointed out that Chinese people often talk about doctors being benevolent and helping the world. When people are sick, they need to be treated. When problems and difficulties arise in the development of the world, they also need to be managed. The global governance initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is a good antidote to the various chaos in the world today. Traditional Chinese medicine treats diseases by emphasizing a holistic view and a harmonious view, and pays attention to systematic treatment and consolidating the roots. The same goes for economic governance. Countries in the world are an organic whole. No country can be immune to itself, and no model can cure all diseases. We should have more wisdom of tolerance and coordination, less obsession with zero-sum games, more responsibility for helping each other, and less short-sightedness of beggar-thy-neighbor, so as to jointly protect the prosperity of the world.

Piucala, Regional Director of the World Health Organization for the Western Pacific, delivered a speech. About 1,200 people including government officials from various countries, envoys to China, experts and scholars, practitioners of traditional medicine and heads of relevant international organizations attended the opening ceremony.

Yin Li, Liu Guozhong and Wu Zhenglong participated in the event.