On October 22, during an interview, Du Zhenzong, the Director of the Health and Wellness Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, underscored the region’s commitment to enhancing the traditional medicine collaboration mechanism between China (Guangxi) and Vietnam (Quang Ninh). He emphasized that Guangxi aims to establish comprehensive cooperation with Quang Ninh in various areas such as production, academia, research, and sales within the field of traditional medicine.
This announcement coincided with World Traditional Medicine Day. To mark the occasion, the Guangxi Health and Wellness Committee, the Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration, and the Quang Ninh Department of Health organized a large-scale theme event in Dongxing City, Guangxi, for 2024. This event aims to foster mutual learning and appreciation of traditional medicine between the two regions.
The event in Dongxing featured a variety of traditional medicine cultural activities, including themed performances, a cultural marketplace for traditional remedies, and an international herbal cuisine friendship competition.
Du mentioned that Guangxi is known as a “natural pharmacy” and a “hometown of medicinal herbs” in China, serving as a front-line hub for cooperation with ASEAN countries. He highlighted the establishment of platforms for traditional Chinese medicine collaboration, including a national-level herbal medicine market in Yulin and several national import/export ports in Nanning, Dongxing, and other locations. Guangxi has also developed distinctive regional brands like “Gui Shi Wei” and “Gui Herbal Cuisine.”
In recent years, there has been extensive cooperation between China and Vietnam in the field of traditional medicine. Initiatives such as the China-ASEAN Health Cooperation Forum and the China-ASEAN Traditional Medicine Forum have facilitated successful collaborations in areas like medical technology services, preservation and utilization of medicinal plant resources, talent development in traditional medicine, research and education, and the dissemination of health culture.
Du further clarified that Guangxi has been closely collaborating with the four border provinces of Vietnam, engaging in exchanges, visits, and short-term training for professionals to promote the implementation of their health cooperation plan. He expressed the intention to deepen bilateral cooperation in traditional medicine with Vietnam, aiming to share research insights that enhance the health and well-being of people in both countries.
Nguyen Trung Mien, Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Health, added that this event serves as a vital opportunity for experts from both countries to exchange knowledge and explore new therapies, paving the way for new collaborative opportunities. He assured that the health department would continue to work alongside Guangxi to provide health services to residents in the border regions of both countries.
On the same day, in the health consultation area, experts from both nations utilized traditional diagnostic methods such as observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking to address queries and offer personalized treatment recommendations. An elderly physician from Mong Cai City, Vietnam, Shen Mingfen, expressed his delight, saying, “I specialize in Tuina massage, and this is my first time showcasing Vietnamese traditional techniques in China. I’m thrilled to receive recognition from the Chinese people.”
About the author