On October 21, the International Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture and the Promotion of the Yi Medicine Health Industry kicked off in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, the birthplace of Yi medicine. This event brought together guests from universities, enterprises, associations, medical institutions, and research organizations, both domestic and international, to collaboratively promote the global dissemination of TCM culture. The aim is to leverage cultural strengths to advance the inheritance and innovation of TCM and the development of the ethnic medicine industry.
Zhang Wenwang, the Governor of Chuxiong Prefecture, emphasized in his speech that Chuxiong boasts unique cultural and tourism resources, including the Lufeng Dinosaur and Yuanmou Man. He described Chuxiong as a nurturing and livable destination, noting that Yi medicine’s water ointment therapy and the technique for making “Boluuding” have been recognized as national intangible cultural heritage projects. He believes that the assembly of TCM and Yi medicine masters, experts, and scholars will capitalize on Chuxiong’s resources to explore new models for integrating cultural tourism and health care.
The Ambassador of Mauritius to China, Wang Chunwan, also addressed the attendees, stating that traditional Chinese medicine has contributed significantly to the prosperity of the Chinese nation and global health. Having experienced TCM treatments firsthand, he has witnessed its effectiveness and is eager to further promote exchanges and collaborations between Mauritius and China in traditional medicine, aiming to deepen mutual understanding of TCM culture among citizens of both nations.
Yanshu Jiang, Vice President of the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pointed out the need to actively involve traditional medicine, particularly TCM, in global public health governance. He encouraged institutions and social entities in TCM to engage in international exchanges and collaborations throughout various stages of “production, education, research, and application.” He also stressed the importance of enhancing the research on the international dissemination of TCM cultural content, to better highlight its core values and build a brand for TCM’s overseas communication projects along with new media channels.
During the conference, the results of the second International TCM Culture Communication Case Competition were announced. Selected among the top ten exemplary cases were the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture TCM Hospital’s project “Innovating Through Inheritance: Bringing Yi Medicine to the World,” the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences’ “Historical Heritage Leading the International Dissemination of TCM Culture,” and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine’s Xu Tiancheng’s initiative “Young TCM Practitioners on the Global Stage: Using Robots to Bring Acupuncture to International Attention.”
The event was co-hosted by the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the International Communication Development Center of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, and the Yunnan Provincial Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It also included keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, promotional initiatives for the Yi medicine industry, and the release of Yi medicine achievements.