Chinese officials: Promote international cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine to be closer to the health needs of various countries

China News Service, Beijing, October 9 (Reporter Li Chun) Huang Luqi, deputy director of China's State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and leader of the preparatory working group for the 2026 World Congress of Traditional Medicine, said in Beijing on the 9th that China and the countries co-building the "Belt and Road" will jointly strengthen joint research and development of medicinal resources to promote international cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine to be closer to the health needs of various countries and to benefit local people.

On the same day, the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal People's Government held a press conference for the 2026 World Congress of Traditional Medicine. Talking about China's important measures and achievements in promoting traditional Chinese medicine to the world, Huang Luqi said at the meeting that China has given full play to the diverse value of traditional Chinese medicine and promoted cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine to be included in more than 50 Sino-foreign joint statements and related outcome documents.

Huang Luqi said that so far, traditional Chinese medicine has spread to 196 countries and regions. China has signed cooperation agreements on traditional Chinese medicine with nearly 50 foreign governments, regional authorities and international organizations, gradually forming an international cooperation pattern led by inter-governmental cooperation, supported by international organization cooperation, and widely participated by medical education, scientific research institutions and social organizations.

Huang Luqi also said that traditional Chinese medicine has achieved positive results in serving overseas people. China promotes high-quality TCM services in the Belt and Road Initiative, building 30 high-quality TCM overseas centers and 31 national characteristic service export bases (TCM) to carry out medical services, personnel training, scientific research and cultural exchanges.

He said that China has sent five batches of fully-organized Chinese medicine foreign aid medical teams to Cambodia to provide Chinese medicine services to the local people. Strengthen joint research and development of medicinal resources with countries co-building the "Belt and Road", promote international cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine to be closer to the health needs of various countries, and benefit local people more.

Regarding the next work plan, Huang Luqi mentioned that they will pay more attention to the construction quality and sustainable development of overseas traditional Chinese medicine centers, promote policy communication and rule connection in the registration of traditional Chinese medicine products, practice of traditional Chinese medicine personnel, education and training, and application of standards; strengthen evidence-based research, technological innovation, and the construction of international standards to form more cooperation results that benefit the people.