Organized by the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), co-organized by the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, and coordinated by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao (GMTCM Park), the “Seminar on Traditional Medicine Cooperation for Participants from Portuguese-speaking Countries” was concluded with a closing and certificate award ceremony held at MGM Macau on July 28. Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, Ji Xianzheng; Director of the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Alvis Lo Iek Long; and Director and Deputy General Manager of the GMTCM Park, Wang Dan, among other guests, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.

Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng remarked in his speech that it was the second time holding a seminar in this field, after the inauguration of the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Exchange Center for Epidemic Prevention during the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference of the Forum Macao in 2022, and also marks the first offline seminar on traditional medicine in the post-pandemic era. The seminar, with richer and more diverse curriculums and teaching approaches, seeks to further promote the development and international cooperation of traditional medicine. In the future, the Permanent Secretariat will take the Exchange Center as the base to organize more training, internships, and other exchange activities in the area of public health for Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs). It will construct a broader exchange platform to promote and develop the traditional medicine cultures of different countries and continuously facilitate the exchange of achievements and experience regarding the international development of traditional medicine, with the view to laying a solid foundation for medical and health cooperation between China and PSCs.

Director Alvis Lo Iek Long indicated in his speech that the Macao SAR Government has always attached great importance to the development of traditional medicine and has been devoted to the implementation of the cooperation project in this area with the World Health Organization since 2011. To this end, the government has continuously organized training programs for officials in the area of traditional medicine from the participating countries of Forum Macao and has also constructed an international exchange platform for PSCs and countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative in particular, thereby jointly fostering the development of traditional medicine. Over the years, the Health Bureau has been working closely with the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, such as co-organizing various seminars on traditional medicine. In the future, the Health Bureau will continue supporting the related activities of the Forum Macao, while promoting the exchange and cooperation on traditional medicine between China and PSCs. 

Deputy General Manager Wang Dan noted in her speech that the GMTCM Park has forged partnership with the Forum Macao and the Ministry of Health of PSCs and has co-organized 18 training sessions revolving around traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for PSCs, which have attracted the participation of over 600 professionals in total. During the seminar, the participants demonstrated their motivation to acquire actively in-depth knowledge and experience related to the field of TCM, as well as learning more about Macao as an exchange platform. She hopes that the participants will be able to apply the knowledge and experience gained from the seminar to their medical practices in their countries, in a bid to better  develop the traditional medicine and promote the joint development of traditional medicine and health sectors of China and PSCs. 

The rotating representative of the seminar, Bernardo Diniz Coutinho, said that during the 15 days of learning, the participants immersed themselves in the sea of TCM theories and practices. They gained broader horizons from the TCM culture, acquired relevant knowledge, and further enhanced their professionalism. The seminar has fully fulfilled its objectives and has also facilitated the exchange and mutual learning among professionals and management personnel from the health sectors of China and PSCs, in addition to consolidating the friendly relationship among different parties.

The seminar was conducted in Macao, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, and Foshan between July 17 and 29 and was attended by a total of 15 participants, including officials, technicians, and organization leaders of the relevant fields from Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, and Portugal. The participants joined a series of thematic talks, experience workshops and discussions on various subjects, including Macao’s TCM development, the market demand and government administration, studies on TCM modernization, the application of TCM principles, dietary therapy with TCM herbal ingredients, TCM-featured therapies (acupuncture), the international platform for the TCM industry under the Belt and Road Initiative, the integration of Chinese and Western therapies, TCM treatment for “sub-health”, TCM health maintenance exercises, and the development and cooperation of traditional medicine in Portuguese-speaking countries. During their study in Macao, they also visited the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, the University of Macau, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao, the University Hospital of the Macau University of Science and Technology, Hac Sa Wan Health Center (Areia Preta), a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy of the Tung Sin Tong Charitable Society, and the GMTCM Park. Moreover, they explored the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine in Guangzhou and outstanding enterprises such as Efong Pharmaceutical in Foshan, as well as exchanged insights with the relevant departments and medical bodies.

Other honorable guests that attended the ceremony included: Consul-General of Angola in Macao, Eduardo Velasco Galiano; Consul-General of Mozambique in Macao, Rafael Custódio Marques; Vice-Consul for Commercial Affairs and Investment of Portugal to Macao and Hong Kong (Delegate of AICEP Macau), Bernardo Pinho; Deputy Secretary-General of Forum Macao, Paulo Jorge do Espírito Santo; Deputy Secretary-General of Forum Macao, Casimiro de Jesus Pinto; Coordinator of the Administrative Office, Li Xiaohui; Coordinator of the Liaison Office, Gika Simão; and Coordinator of the Supporting Office, Teresa Mok.