Second International Forum on Traditional Chinese Medicine Development Successfully Held in Beijing

Beijing, June 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To promote the high-quality development of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry and advance its global reach, the "Second Forum on the International Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine," hosted by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, the China Health Promotion Foundation, and People's Daily Online·People's Health, and supported by AstraZeneca, was successfully held in Beijing on June 7. The event was broadcast via live video streaming, reaching audiences in more than 70 countries and regions worldwide.

Yu Wenming, Director of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Bai Shuzhong, Former Minister of the Health Department of the General Logistics Department of the PLA and Lifetime Honorary Chairman of the China Health Promotion Foundation; Wang Guochen, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Association of Chinese Medicine; Zhang Boli, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Han Yaling, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Zhang Yun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Sun Guangrong, National Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine; and other leaders, experts, and scholars, along with corporate representatives such as Lai Minglong, General Manager of AstraZeneca China, attended the event. They jointly discussed a series of important topics, including the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in supporting chronic disease management at the grassroots level, the adherence to fundamental principles and innovation in TCM, and the modernization and internationalization of TCM.

Yu Wenming, Director of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicinestated: “The cause of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is currently ushering in a significant strategic opportunity for inheritance, innovation, and development. Let us embrace modern science and technology and the world with greater openness and confidence, respect underlying principles, advance the inheritance and innovative development of TCM, promote its modernization and industrialization, foster the integrated development of production, education, research, and application, collaborate closely with medical and health professionals worldwide, and make new and greater contributions to the health and well-being of people around the globe and to building a global community of health for all.”

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhang Bolistated: “At present, the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is ushering in unprecedented opportunities. However, three major issues remain to be addressed: first, providing more scientific evidence of clinical efficacy; second, leveraging modernized production methods to ensure high-quality and premium-grade pharmaceutical products; and third, standardizing cultivation and management practices to achieve pollution-free TCM materials. We must prioritize therapeutic efficacy as the foundation, support development with modern science and technology, and be guided by standards. By introducing advanced global R&D and industrial technologies, we aim to facilitate the modernization of TCM, promote its international expansion, foster people-to-people connectivity with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, and share TCM health services.”

Integrating Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Combining Chinese and Western Pharmaceuticals to Enhance Chronic Disease Management at the Primary Care Level

In recent years, the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the prevention and control of chronic diseases has received significant attention from the state. The government has successively issued a series of documents, including the Outline of the Strategic Plan for the Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2016–2030) and the Opinions on Promoting the Inheritance, Innovation, and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine. These documents propose measures such as “improving the TCM medical service network covering both urban and rural areas” and “promoting the integration of Traditional Chinese and Western medicine,” thereby charting a course for the application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Furthermore, they call for “accelerating the establishment of evidence-based medicine centers for Traditional Chinese Medicine” and “expediting scientific research and innovation in Traditional Chinese Medicine,” so as to effectively advance the modernization and innovative development of TCM and better meet contemporary needs for disease prevention and treatment.

Wang Guochen, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Association of Chinese MedicineIt stated: “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a profound mass base. The general public at the grassroots level, especially the elderly population, have a widespread and strong cultural identification with TCM. Therefore, to comprehensively enhance people’s health across all aspects and throughout the entire life cycle, adhering to equal emphasis on both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine, and creating a healthy development model in which TCM and Western medicine complement and coordinate with each other, is a solution that aligns with China’s characteristics and the needs of its people.”

Among chronic diseases with high incidence rates, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have become the chronic disease with the highest mortality rate in China.During the forum, the China Association of Chinese Medicine, the China Health Promotion Foundation, People's Daily Online, and AstraZeneca jointly launched the “TCM-Assisted Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health Management Project.”, to leverage the advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in disease prevention and treatment, and to enhance the level of prevention and control of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China. The project aims to increase the coverage rate of patient screening by improving the screening capabilities of TCM and Western medicine medical institutions at all levels. It provides training programs covering large hospitals, communities, and primary healthcare institutions including township health centers, thereby helping to improve the integrated TCM and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment standards across medical institutions at all levels. By applying modern evidence-based medicine to analyze real-world data and validate the clinical efficacy of combined use of TCM and Western medicines, the project seeks to optimize clinical medication regimens and promote rational drug use in clinical practice.

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhang YunHe stated, “In the past, the clinical promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies and the advancement of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine faced certain challenges due to a lack of robust, scientific evidence-based data. With the launch of this project, the evidence base for the application of TCM in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases will continue to be strengthened. This will facilitate better understanding and recognition by Western medicine practitioners of the value of TCM in treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions, thereby promoting the integrated development of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in clinical practice and benefiting more patients.”

Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies Accelerate the Modernization and Internationalization of Traditional Chinese Medicine

In January 2019, AstraZeneca became the first multinational pharmaceutical company to enter the field of Chinese proprietary medicines, reaching a cooperation agreement with Luye Pharma.

While enhancing the accessibility of high-quality traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products in China and globally, AstraZeneca is helping to build an internationally influential platform for TCM development and exchange. In March 2019, with support from AstraZeneca, the first Forum on the International Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine was successfully held, creating a platform for all parties to jointly discuss the internationalization of TCM. This June, AstraZeneca supported the forum for the second consecutive year, broadcasting it live to audiences in more than 70 countries and regions worldwide to promote global understanding of TCM.

Lai Minglong, General Manager of AstraZeneca ChinaStating: “Rooted in China for 27 years, we have always adhered to a patient-centric approach, focusing on key disease areas in China, and continuously exploring and providing high-quality pharmaceutical resources and solutions that align with Chinese characteristics and the needs of Chinese patients. AstraZeneca endorses the principle of ‘integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with Western medicine and using both in tandem,’ as well as the TCM concept of ‘preventive treatment of disease.’ As a multinational pharmaceutical company, we have consistently sought to leverage our strengths and advantages by providing support in academia, scientific research, and innovation, complemented by our extensive academic promotion capabilities that reach deep into grassroots communities. We work hand in hand with partners across all sectors to advance the modernization and innovative development of TCM, support evidence-based medical research on TCM, explore the application of innovative technologies in the TCM field, promote international exchange of experience, and facilitate the gradual alignment of TCM clinical efficacy evaluation, product quality, and other standards with international norms. We hope to collaborate with all parties to build a healthcare ecosystem that supports the modernization and internationalization of TCM, thereby benefiting more patients.”