The first "Belt and Road Alliance for Traditional Chinese Medicine-Traditional Medicine Summit Forum" was successfully held on January 12, 2025, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Leaders and scholars from the traditional medicine industry in the Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and various countries gathered to explore new opportunities for traditional medicine under the Belt and Road Initiative, seeking pathways for cooperation and development in traditional medicine. The Forum aimed to enhance collaboration between higher education institutions and industries among the Belt and Road regions, promote the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine, and integrate it into modern practices for a global reach. The Forum received strong support from the government, industry, and various professional associations, including funding from the Hong Kong SAR Government's Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS), sponsorship from CK Hair & Beauty Products Limited, and co-hosting by university departments and professional associations. In his welcome speech, Professor Lee Hong Seng, Associate Vice President of CUHK, said: "In recent years, promoting the high-quality integration of traditional Chinese medicine into the Belt and Road Initiative has been a hot topic. This plan is an important area for advancing the construction of a healthy Silk Road, a crucial measure for building health cooperation partnerships, and a significant component for promoting high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. It also serves as an important vehicle for establishing a shared human health community." Dr. Vincent Chung, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development of the Hong Kong SAR Government, remarked during his speech: "The Hong Kong government has been dedicated to promoting comprehensive and high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine. We continuously invest resources in areas such as collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine, research in Chinese medicine, quality control of Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese medicine services, and training of Chinese medicine professionals, with the aim of leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages in traditional Chinese medicine to develop it as a bridgehead for the internationalisation of Chinese medicine." The Forum included two keynote speeches and parallel sessions, focusing on the future outlook of traditional medicine under the Belt and Road Initiative, the role of traditional medicine in disease prevention and treatment, and related research in herbal medicine. The conference invited 16 experts from eight regions and seven countries to share insights, with major speakers including Director Tian Xingjun from the Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Professor Rudolf Bauer from the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of University of Graz in Austria. They shared new opportunities for international cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine and how to apply traditional medicine into future healthcare systems. During the fourteen parallel sessions, the speakers interacted and exchanged ideas with participants. Professor Chan Wai-yee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, mentioned in his closing remarks, " We hope that this large-scale summit forum can enhance the commercialization and clinical research levels of traditional medicine, deepen the international cooperation network among experts and scholars, and vigorously promote the construction of a shared human health community." This forum received widespread support and was a remarkable success, with around 500 participants attending in person for face-to-face exchanges, and over 1,000 participants joining online.
The Presidents’ Forum 2024 of the Belt and Road Alliance for Traditional Chinese Medicine was held at CUHK on 16 August 2024. More than 30 presidents and representatives from traditional medicine-related universities and colleges from mainland China and Belt and Road countries and regions gathered on the CUHK campus to discuss the internationalisation and modernisation of traditional medicine. Over 300 attendees from more than 60 institutions attended the event, including representatives from the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, the Hong Kong government, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) administrative bureaus and government departments from mainland provinces, as well as ambassadors or consuls-general from countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. The Former CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Rocky S. Tuan said in his welcome address: “Since its establishment last year by CUHK, with the full support of the initiating and founding members, the Alliance has been committed to promoting the inheritance of and innovation traditional medicine, integrating it with modern practices and taking it to the world, which resonates with CUHK’s founding mission to combine tradition with modernity and to bridge China and the West.” Hong Kong Secretary for Health Professor Lo Chung-mau said Hong Kong possessed excellent conditions for the development of Chinese medicine, which include a comprehensive regulatory system for Chinese medicine, abundant talent and extensive experience in areas such as healthcare services, education, research and international connectivity. The government had dedicated more resources to establishing flagship infrastructure and taking forward various policy measures benefiting the growth of the Chinese medicine sector, he said. Mr. Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Belt and Road, said he looked forward to the alliance playing a critical role in forging partnerships amongst universities, research institutes, academia and enterprises on TCM: “Together we could bring TCM to new heights to navigate towards a successful Health Silk Road, or creating more development opportunities for Belt and Road countries and tangible benefits for the people.” The attendees witnessed a plaque-unveiling ceremony for the Belt and Road International Laboratory for Innovative Traditional Medicine Research, with several universities from Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa and Sri Lanka joining as new founding member units of the Alliance. Professor Zhang Zhongde, Vice-Chairman of the Alliance, said: “The establishment of the Joint Laboratory marks our commitment to integrating global scientific research efforts and carrying out in-depth academic exchanges and research cooperation. Through this platform, we hope to bring together outstanding talents from various countries and regions to jointly explore the modernisation of traditional medicine and promote its application in the fields of disease prevention, treatment and health management.” Professor Xu Hongxi, chairman of the Alliance, delivered a keynote speech on “Opportunities and Challenges of Traditional Medicine Globalisation”, highlighting the importance of improving the quality and standards of traditional medicine, strengthening international cooperation and promoting scientific research. In addition, 25 participating presidents and representatives had in-depth discussions on the internationalisation and modernisation of traditional medicine, the establishment of a new university model for traditional medicine, and the development of new quality productive forces in traditional medicine, in three round-table sessions. Round-table Discussion I ：The Internationalisation and Modernisation Development of Traditional Medicine From left: Professor Chan Wai-yee, Executive Chairman of the Alliance, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of CUHK (Moderator) Professor Chuah Joon Huang, President of Southern University College Profosser Te Kian Keong , Director of Centre for Research in Traditional Chinese Medicine of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Professor Anoja Attanayake, Professor in Biochemistry of University of Ruhuna Professor Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong, Professor of Epidemiology of Prince of Songkla University Dr. Quinton Johnson, Director of International Academic Programmes Office of University of Cape Town Dr. Chen Xin, Director of Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences of University of Macau Dr. Shen Yunhui, Technical Officer, Traditional, Contemporary and Integrative Medicine (TCI) Unit, Integrated Health Services (HIS)/UHL, WHO Round-table Discussion II ：Establishing a New-form University of Traditional Medicine From left: Professor Gao Xiumei, President of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(Moderator); Professor Shu Jing, Vice-President of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Shu Fan, President of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine Professor Li Lei, Vice-President of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine Professor Tsui Chi Ho Ban, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Professor Yu Rong, Vice-President of Hunan University Chinese Medicine Professor Wang Hongwei, President of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine Mr. Sun Hongxin, Deputy Secretary of Party Committee of Xinjiang Medical University Round-table Discussion III ：The Development of New Quality Productive Forces in Traditional Medicine From left: Professor Li Candong, President of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Moderator) Professor Jiang Yunlan, Deputy Secretary of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Sichuan Province Professor Tian Weiyi, Deputy Secretary of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Zhai Lixiang, President of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University Professor Xiao Jian, Vice-President of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine Professor Cui Yazhou, Vice-President of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Zhang Tianfeng, Secretary of Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Professor Du Qingfeng, Dean of School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University
On May 13, 2024, Mr. Yang Xingping, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province, led a delegation to visit CUHK and the Alliance. They met with Mr. Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Commissioner for Belt and Road of the HKSAR Government, Professor Alan Chan Kam-leung, Provost of CUHK, Professor Wai-yee Chan, Executive Chairman of the Alliance and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK. Together, they witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between the Alliance and the Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The agreement aims to promote the modernization and industrialization of TCM and its global outreach. Both parties intend to engage in deep collaboration in international trade, technological innovation, talent cultivation, and other areas to facilitate the integration of TCM into the "Belt and Road" initiative and the establishment of the "Belt and Road International Laboratory for Innovative Traditional Medicine Research".
The inauguration ceremony of the Alliance and the Presidents’ Forum 2023 was successfully held on November 2, 2023, at CUHK. The event received support from the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), and Professor Huang Luqi, the Deputy Director, delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the NATCM. The event was attended by leaders from over 20 traditional Chinese medicine universities and colleges. Speech by Officiating Guest Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Former Chairman of the Alliance, Former Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, said, “The establishment of the Alliance and the Presidents’ Forum will jointly promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine in the Belt and Road regions and the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as the collaborations and exchanges between Mainland and Hong Kong universities in the field of TCM. By leveraging the strengths of universities and research institutes in Hong Kong, the Alliance aims to facilitate the "going global" strategy of TCM along the Belt and Road initiative and accelerate its processes of modernization and industrialization.” Professor Huang Luqi, Deputy Director of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine/President of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences said, “The establishment of the Alliance in Hong Kong not only serves to unite the industry-academia-research organizations on TCM along the Belt and Road countries and regions but also provides a platform for promoting the modernization and industrialization of TCM, as well as connecting with the world. This initiative holds significant and far-reaching implications.” Speech by Alliance Representative Mr. Tian Xingjun, Director of Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, introduced the development of TCM in Sichuan Province, and suggested that members of the Alliance should continue to leverage their unique strengths and deepen exchanges and cooperation with collaborators abroad, contributing to the shared future for global health with wisdom and knowledge from TCM. Professor Chen Wenfeng, Secretary of Party Committee of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, believed that the promotion of the development of TCM is ushering in a great opportunity in terms of favourable circumstances and has put forward suggestions on how to fully utilise the unique strengths of TCM in advancing the modernization of TCM, and promoting TCM to go global. Professor Zhang Zhongde, President of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, expressed that the TCM industry in various countries and regions is an interconnected community with a shared future. Through the establishment of the Alliance, China's TCM industry has opened its doors wider to the world. Inland regions have transitioned from being "rear guard" to becoming "vanguards," while the coastal regions are set to achieve further development. Keynote speech Ⅰ- Strategies for Chinese Medicine Going Global Professor Huang Luqi, Deputy Director of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and President of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences delivered a keynote speech and elaborated the planning of the development of Chinese medicine and the theoretical system of systematic modernization research. He also put forward higher-level requirements and expectations towards the Alliance. Keynote speech Ⅱ- CUHK Traditional Chinese Medicine: Embrace the Past, Empower the Future Professor Leung Ping Chung, Honorary Chairman of the Alliance, Director of Centre for Clinical Trials on Chinese Medicine of CUHK delivered a keynote speech reviewing the development of Chinese medicine of CUHK over the past 60 years. He highlighted CUHK's significant contributions to TCM research by employing modern research methods and emphasized CUHK's collaborative endeavors with international partners. During the event, presidents from 12 institutions, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), and leader from the Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine gave speeches and engaged in discussions on strategic TCM development, its global expansion, and collaborations in modernised industry, academia, and research. Round-table Discussion l - Experience of Chinese Medicine Going Global From left: Professor Chan Wai-yee, Executive Chairman of the Alliance, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of CUHK (Moderator) Dr. Liu Qin, Traditional, Complimentary and Integrative Medicine Unit of World Health Organization Professor Ding Zhongtao, President of Yunnan University of Chinese MedicineProfessor Gao Xiumei, President of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Li Candong, President of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Li Kejian, President of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Yang Xinling, Vice-President of Xinjiang Medicine University Round-table Discussion II - Modernisation of Chinese Medicine and Industry-University-Research Collaboration From left: Professor Tian Xingjun, Director of Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Moderator) Professor Zhai Lixiang, President of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University Professor Wang Yunfu, President of Hubei University of Medicine Professor Hao Huiqin, Secretary of Party Committee of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine Professor Yang Yongqing, Vice-President of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Li Shenghong, Vice-President of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Professor Xie Chunguang, Director of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Sichuan Province
