At the 2024 World Conference on Traditional Medicine held in Beijing, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with the global community to integrate traditional medicine into the international health system. Highlighting the unique role of traditional medicine in disease treatment and its potential in promoting health, Liu emphasized that this discipline is an integral part of global medical science alongside modern medicine. He noted that China aims to share its knowledge and expertise in this field with the world to make significant contributions to global health.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) boasts a history spanning thousands of years, playing a vital role in daily life and combating illnesses. Liu emphasized TCM’s holistic approach, which stands out for its focus on prevention, individualized care, and harmony. He also noted that China has successfully merged modern and traditional medicine in recent decades, creating a development model that could benefit other countries. This integration, Liu added, offers unparalleled advantages in preventive care and personalized healthcare services.
During the conference, Liu proposed three key points for integrating traditional medicine into the global health system: enhancing confidence and originality to broaden the scope of traditional medicine, integrating modern and traditional medicine based on principles of integrity and innovation, and strengthening cooperation and exchanges among different cultures. The event, which included a video address from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was attended by government officials, representatives of international organizations, health experts, and academics. This initiative underscores China’s commitment to gaining international recognition for traditional medicine and increasing its effective use worldwide.