Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for stronger international cooperation, technological innovation and equitable access to traditional medicine to address emerging global health challenges.
He made the appeal at the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing, emphasising the need to preserve traditional medical knowledge while embracing scientific advancement.
Li described traditional medicine as an important resource for protecting human health, preserving cultural heritage and strengthening relations among nations. He said centuries of accumulated knowledge and diverse diagnostic and therapeutic practices continued to complement modern medicine.
Highlighting China’s experience, Li described Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a significant part of the country’s civilisation and a contributor to global traditional medicine. He said China had developed the world’s largest traditional medicine system, supported by policies covering clinical practice, research, industrial development and professional training.
According to him, China was combining traditional knowledge with modern science and technology to improve treatment outcomes. He added that TCM institutions accounted for about one-tenth of medical institutions in China, while nearly all medical institutions offered TCM services.
Li said TCM had expanded to 196 countries and regions, attributing its international reach partly to cooperation, investment and knowledge-sharing.
He urged countries to harness artificial intelligence, modern biomedicine and digital technologies to advance research, improve diagnosis and develop evidence-based traditional treatments.
He also called for stronger international partnerships, intellectual property protection, conservation of medicinal resources and mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
Li 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 reaffirmed China’s commitment to reducing global health inequalities through inclusive international cooperation, stressing that countries could not achieve lasting prosperity in isolation.
The World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 brings together stakeholders to discuss the development, scientific advancement and international cooperation of traditional medicine.
