The 2024 World Conference on Traditional Medicine concluded in Beijing on Wednesday, with a declaration released to give full play to traditional medicine in universal health coverage and integration of traditional medicine with modern technologies. Co-hosted by China and the World Health Organization, the two-day event attracted over 3,000 attendees from 85 countries and regions, including more than 600 foreign representatives, to discuss the latest research results of traditional medicine and share practical experience.
The declaration released at the closing ceremony of the conference focuses on coordination and cooperation, protection and utilization, innovation and integration, which aims to promote traditional medicine in different culture and fields, enhance accessibility and equality, improve safety, effectiveness and environmental sustainability, so as to meet the highest attainable standard of health, ensure universal health coverage, and achieve sustainable development goals.
The declaration calls on all countries to continuously promote the integration of traditional medicine into their primary health care systems, intensify the integrated development of traditional medicine and modern medicine, and increase exchanges and cooperation on policies and regulations, health care, education and training, scientific research, industrial development, and mutual learning among civilizations.
A forum on advanced technologies and data-driven traditional medicine was held on the sidelines of the conference, gathering top experts and scholars from around the world to conduct in-depth discussions on traditional medicine, big data, artificial intelligence and life science.
"Through such cross interactions, we have not only retained the good part of our knowledge but also shed new light on the previous unknown, enriching our recognition and making our medical experiments more scientific instead of merely abiding by traditional rule of thumb," said Cheng Jing, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "I think digital technology has everything to do with traditional medicine's development everywhere, starting from clinical practice to health system integration, to drug development, to new protocols developing new technology for diagnosis and treatment. Everywhere, digital technology and innovation has a lot to do," said Geetha Krishnan, director of WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine.
2024 World Conference on Traditional Medicine concludes in Beijing
The speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a symposium on private enterprises in Beijing on Monday has inspired entrepreneurs to pursue high-quality development and break new ground for the private economy.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said China's private economy has grown considerably in size and accounts for a large proportion of the whole economy, laying a solid foundation for promoting its high-quality development.
The continuous improvement of the socialist market economy and the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics will provide a stronger guarantee for the development of the private economy, Xi said.
"The meeting convened by the general secretary has given us a boost and greater confidence to continue our development. We will follow the course for Chinese modernization charted by the general secretary, focus on the goal of high-quality development and work unremittingly to create our new glory," said Xu Guanju, chairman of leading chemicals manufacturer Transfar Group.
"Primarily, I think the symposium strengthened our confidence in the development of the private economy. We must follow the general secretary's requirements, stick to developing our industry, focus on our core business without distractions, and serve our country with the industry to realize the dream of building China into a great country," said Wang Chuanfu, chairman and CEO of automaker BYD.
With regard to the difficulties and challenges facing the private sector, Xi encouraged the entrepreneurs to stay committed to development, firm up confidence in growth, and maintain the spirit of striving to win.
The private sector enjoys broad prospects and great potential on the new journey in the new era, Xi said, adding that it is a prime time for private enterprises and entrepreneurs to give full play to their capabilities.
"I'm very excited and inspired. I deeply feel the support and care of the general secretary and the Party Central Committee for private enterprises and entrepreneurs. We must be determined to apply the latest technologies such as AI into our terminal products to enhance the global influence of Chinese products," said Lei Jun, chairman of tech giant Xiaomi.
"All the entrepreneurs present [at the symposium] felt the encouragement from the general secretary, which gave us a clear idea of the future direction of our enterprises, allowing us to work hard to make our businesses better without any misgivings. We can make products really useful for everyone and advance the development of our products with new scientific and technological innovations," said Wang Xingxing, CEO of Unitree Robotics.
"In his important speech, the general secretary repeatedly encouraged enterprises and pointed out the direction of policy support. For example, he emphasized that we should focus on the main business, pursue innovative development, and pool efforts of the country and the society. This is the direction that promises prosperous industry and great opportunities. We should dare to take a step forward and take real action in challenging areas," said Gao Yuejing, chairwoman of Sunresin New Materials.
The entrepreneurs said they will continue to improve the quality, efficiency and core competitiveness of their businesses, strive to promote scientific and technological innovation, cultivate new quality productive forces, and make new and greater contributions to economic and social development.
Xi's emphasis on concrete policies and measures to promote the development of the private sector in his speech has resonated with officials from relevant departments.
Zheng Bei, deputy director of the National Reform and Development Commission (NDRC), said the NDRC will take resolute actions to remove obstacles to market access and introduce a new negative list for market access as soon as possible, while promoting fair opening of competitive infrastructure fields and major national scientific research infrastructure to private enterprises.
The commission will be committed to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of private enterprises and entrepreneurs in accordance with the law, he said.
Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Shan Zhongde said his ministry will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that apply special, sophisticated techniques to produce unique and novel products to participate in national scientific research projects.
Shan said the ministry will continue to launch special campaigns to empower SMEs with digital technologies, establish a national service network for them, and guide them to embark on the path of high-quality development.
Xi's speech inspires entrepreneurs to break new ground for private economy