World congress

陈小将

World congress

More than 800 international TCM experts and professionals gathered in Sydney for the 22nd World Congress of Chinese Medicine, held from Oct 30 to Nov 1.

During the opening ceremony on Oct 31, Chinese Consul General Wang Yu read a congratulatory message from Xiao Qian, China's ambassador to Australia.

Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's Global Development Initiative, China is steadily advancing the modernization and industrialization of TCM, demonstrating its vitality in today's global health landscape, Wang said.

China remains committed to the coordinated development of traditional and modern medicine, will continue to strengthen complementarity and integration between Chinese and Western medicine on multiple levels and in various dimensions, and aims to lay a solid foundation of a global community of health and well-being, he said.

Chinese Medicine Board of Australia Chair Danforn Lim said Australia is known for its rich cultural diversity, deep respect for traditional knowledge, and commitment to safe, inclusive healthcare.

Sass assists in a patient's acupuncture treatment at a hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on Sept 24, 2023. HE XINYI/FOR CHINA DAILY

"Regulation shapes our healthcare system, and our healthcare system reflects the kind of society we wish to build. The prevention of harm is at the core of our mission, but so too is the promotion of trust, integrity and professional excellence," he said.

The board supports the integration of TCM, as a culturally rooted healthcare system, one that continues to evolve while remaining grounded in its traditional wisdom, into Australia's diverse healthcare landscape, Lim said.

Jenny Shipley, former prime minister of New Zealand, said the growth and potential offered by TCM for the healthcare sector reflected many similarities with communities in the region.

"Here in Australia, aboriginal traditional medicine offers profound insights that in many respects align with and enrich traditional Chinese medicine, especially through its holistic, spiritual and nature-based healing philosophies," said Shipley, who is also co-chair of the advisory board of the Mencius Foundation, which promotes cultural understanding and dialogue through events and activities.

"Like TCM, aboriginal medicine and in New Zealand Maori health practices, are increasingly being integrated into modern healthcare settings, offering models for how TCM might collaborate with indigenous systems and within diverse economies globally," she said.

Shipley said that TCM is "a cultural treasure, a philosophical framework, and a living testament to the harmony between humanity and nature".

Furthermore, TCM is rooted in thousands of years of observation, practice and refinement, which offers a holistic approach to health — "one that values balance, prevention and the interconnectedness of body, mind and environment", she said.

Shipley said preserving the cultural integrity of TCM "while embracing the transformative power of technology" offered a major opportunity for its development, amid the increasing interconnectedness of a world enabled by artificial intelligence to elevate TCM to the mainstream of people's lives in the East and the West.

She noted a significant increase in the volume of global research and publications on Chinese medicine, indicating growing scientific curiosity and interest, as well as potential for TCM's future growth.