From April 24th to 25th, Li Xi, Party Chief of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, visited a Traditional Chinese Medicine (“TCM”) museum, TCM enterprises, TCM hospitals and higher education institutes in Guangzhou and Huizhou in order to talk with reputed and veteran TCM doctors and conduct special research on further studying and implementing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s thought on TCM development as well as expediting the development of Guangdong into a TCM powerhouse.

[Photo: GRTN]

In Huizhou’s Gehong Museum, Li Xi learnt the story of Ge Hong, learnt about traditional Chinese medicine, such as Baicaoyou, production techniques and learnt about Noble Prize winner Tu Youyou’s appreciation of Ge Hong’s Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang (Recipes for Emergencies to Be Kept Close at Hand). He highlighted that we should make every effort to protect, hand down and make use of Lingnan TCM resources, strengthen conservation efforts, including the rescue and documentation of classic TCM books, traditional knowledge and treatments, embrace the essence of TCM and seek to brinng TCM culture into this new era.

At GPHL subsidiary Guangzhou Baiyunshan Hutchison Whampoa Traditional Chinese Medicine Co. Ltd., Li Xi paid a visit to the production workshop, lab and TCM research institute where Chinese patent medicines are researched, developed and manufactured. He encouraged the Company to make more effort in R&D, strengthen university-industry cooperation, optimize and improve technology of TCM production, promote the development of significant and new medicines, constantly upgrade the industrialization and modernization of TCM, and make itself a more competitive company.

At the University Town campus of the Guangdong Hospital of TCM and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Li Xi learnt about the progress of TCM clinic research and higher education on site, visited top TCM doctors, such as Xuan Guowei and Zhou Daihan, and TCM scientist Li Guoqiao. He hopes that TCM practitioners, good doctors and scholars will make contributions to revitalizing and developing TCM by drawing lessons on practice and R&D, making further pioneering efforts and striving for innovation, fostering more and more TCM practitioners, maintaining and developing the essence of TCM culture and medical expertise.

During his visit, Li Xi presided over a symposium, during which he listened to reports and speeches made by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Hospital of TCM, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, GPHL and otherwise. He gave credit to relevant organizations’ recent efforts to achieve solid progress in the modernization of TCM and the TCM strengths of Guangdong Province as they are the drivers of new progress in Guangdong TCM.

Li Xi emphasized that we should further study and implement Chinese President Xi Jinping’s guidance on TCM development, capture the significance of TCM development in the new era, expedite the development of Guangdong into a province with TCM strengths, take a leading role in creative TCM transformation and innovation, and go all out to promote a Guangdong-based TCM revival and development in the new era.

[Photo: GRTN]

First, we should grow a deep understanding of the important opportunities for developing Guangdong into a province with TCM strengths. We should fully realize the golden opportunities in connection with timing, geographical advantage and human relations; these golden opportunities ultimately rely on Xi Jinping and the Central Committee of CPC, take root in the progress of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and come from the unique opportunities offered by the Greater Bay Area. We should analyse the current situation based on long-term trends. Be steadfast, confident and determined to break new ground in Guangdong’s TCM industry.

Second, we should focus on and capture the key points. We should prioritize inheritance culture, vigorously promote TCM culture, propel innovation and development as well as TCM industrialization, and make TCM one of the top industries in the Greater Bay Area.

Third, we should enhance the organizational leadership for developing Guangdong into a province with TCM strengths. Party committees and governments at each level shall concern themselves about and support the development of TCM academies and hospitals, offer more policy support, promote system and mechanism innovation, and facilitate comprehensive and balanced development across TCM treatment, healthcare, R&D, education, industries and culture. We should support TCM companies, strengthen TCM research, foster more young TCM practitioners, actively promote TCM culture, and work together to realize Lingnan TCM’s modernization.

Provincial senior officials Zhang Shuofu, Zheng Yanxiong and Zhang Guangjun participated in this research.

Translated by Michelle Wang

Eidted by Simon Haywood, Monica Liu