A forum is held in Beijing on February 24, 2023, fosuing on development and spread of traditional Chinese medicine. Photo: Courtesy of forum committee

Exporting traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) will further enhance the influence of Chinese culture, said China's top traditional Chinese medicine experts at a forum held in Beijing on February 24.

The report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on October 16, 2022, suggested that in an effort to advance the Healthy China Initiative, China will establish a policy system to boost birth rates, pursue a proactive national strategy in response to the aging population and promote the preservation and innovative development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Experts at the forum said that one way to achieve the initiative would be to revitalize traditional Chinese culture, including TCM.

They noted that the past decade has seen further development of TCM through innovation, with more people gaining access to TCM services and confidently using the related medicines. Also, the Chinese government been trying to build a high-quality and efficient TCM services system, and the capacity of community-level TCM services have seen notable improvements. 

TCM is now available in 196 countries and regions, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

TCM has also been playing an important role in COVID-19 prevention and control efforts. China has shared TCM clinical experience with about 150 countries and regions, and sent TCM doctors to 28 countries and regions to help fight the pandemic, according to Xinhua.

Zhang Boli, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering shares the contributions of TCM in treatment to the COVID-19 at the forum on February 24, 2023. Photo: Courtesy of forum committee

Zhang Boli, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and head of the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), shared the valuable contributions of TCM in treatment of COVID-19 at the forum. He said he had encouraged patients recovering from COVID-19 to adopt combined treatment, taking Western medicine for health assessment and traditional Chinese medicine for their gradual recovery.

During the global health crisis, TCM appears to have gained more recognition overseas, not only among the public, but also among government officials. 

But TCM is still not fully accepted by Western markets. In many countries, TCM still only complements Western medicine, partly due to cultural differences as well as gaps in legal systems. 

Chinese cultural scholar and novelist Xue Mo makes a speech at the forum on February 24, 2023. Photo: Courtesy of forum committee

"According to my observation, the influence of TCM overseas has improved a bit in recent years, but it is still limited to the Chinese community. Exports of TCM will further enhance the influence of Chinese culture and promote the community of human civilization, which is crucial for us now," Xue Mo, a well-known Chinese cultural scholar and novelist, told the Global Times at the forum.

If Chinese medicine can be an important carrier of love, wisdom and Chinese philosophy, it will be widely accepted by people of different nationalities and ethnicities, he noted.

TCM embodies profound philosophical wisdom and thousands of years of Chinese health concepts and practical experience, the scholar said.

In the country's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), TCM was given priority to push forward the reform and development of the industry.

Wang Liming, vice chairman of the Publishers Association of China, pointed out at the forum that achieving longevity and health of the people is an important symbol of national prosperity and rejuvenation, and is also the common wish of the people of all ethnic groups in China. Top experts call for further exports of traditional Chinese medicine amid rising trust