China has called for stronger international cooperation, technological innovation and equitable access to traditional medicine to address emerging global health challenges.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the appeal at the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing, stressing the need to preserve ancient medical knowledge while embracing scientific advancement.

He said traditional medicine remained an important resource for safeguarding human health, preserving cultural heritage and strengthening friendship among nations. According to him, traditional medicine embodies centuries of accumulated human knowledge and continues to complement modern medicine through distinctive diagnostic approaches and therapeutic practices.

Mr Li noted that different traditional medicine systems reflected the cultural identities of their societies, offering valuable insights into humanity’s relationship with nature, health and community. He added that international exchanges in traditional medicine had historically strengthened medical knowledge, improved healthcare practices and promoted mutual understanding among peoples.

Highlighting China’s experience, the premier described Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a significant component of Chinese civilisation and an important contributor to global traditional medicine.

He said China had developed the world’s largest traditional medicine system, supported by coordinated policies covering clinical practice, research, industrial development and professional training.

Mr Li said the country was combining the preservation of classical medical knowledge with modern science and technology to improve treatment outcomes and expand the application of traditional medicine. He disclosed that TCM institutions accounted for about one-tenth of medical institutions in China, while nearly all medical institutions provided TCM services.

The premier also highlighted the importance of preventive healthcare, affordable treatment and holistic approaches, saying traditional medicine offered distinctive strengths in addressing various health needs.

He said TCM had expanded to 196 countries and regions, attributing its international reach partly to China’s openness to cooperation, investment and knowledge-sharing.

Mr Li urged countries to “harness artificial intelligence, modern biomedicine and digital technologies to accelerate research, improve diagnostic methods and transform traditional remedies into evidence-based treatments”.

He called for “stronger international partnerships, protection of intellectual property, conservation of medicinal resources and mutual recognition of professional qualifications to support the sustainable development of traditional medicine”.

Mr Li further urged the international community to “implement the World Health Organisation’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, integrate appropriate traditional medicine services into national healthcare systems and strengthen support for developing countries”.

He said China would continue contributing to efforts to reduce global health inequalities, while advocating inclusive cooperation and rejecting zero-sum approaches to international relations. The premier also drew parallels between traditional medicine’s emphasis on balance and holistic treatment, and the need for inclusive global economic governance, arguing that countries could not achieve lasting prosperity in isolation.

He urged world leaders to “embrace compassion, peaceful coexistence and collective responsibility, stressing that international cooperation remained essential to protecting human health and advancing global prosperity”.

The World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 brings together stakeholders to discuss the development, scientific advancement and international cooperation of traditional medicine. 

(NAN)