The 7th Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area Conference on the Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine kicked off in Hong Kong on December 2. Approximately 800 experts, scholars, health officials and industry representatives in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Macao and overseas attended the conference. They exchanged views on the future direction of the global development of traditional medicine, the clinical services and scientific research progress of TCM, the modernized research on traditional medicine as well as the standards for traditional Chinese medicinal materials.
The opening ceremony was attended by multiple distinguished guests, including Professor Lo Chung – mau, Secretary for Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, Regional Director for the Western Pacific of the World Health Organization; Chen Ronghu, Director – General of the Department of Science and Technology of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Qiu Yahong, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Zhao Heqing, Deputy Director and First – Class Inspector of the Department of Social Work of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region; Law Iek – long, Director of the Health Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government; and Dr. Lam Man – kin, Director of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Prior to the official start of the conference, all attendees stood in silence to mourn the victims of the Tai Po fire.
In his opening speech, Secretary Lo Chung – mau paid special tribute to the victims and the firefighters who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and the affected residents, expressed his respect to those engaged in the rescue efforts, especially firefighters, police officers and medical staff, and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He stated that TCM experts from various regions gathered at the conference to explore ways to leverage the advantages of collaborative innovation in the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area, promote the global development of TCM and contribute to the health of all humanity. He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been committed to advancing the development of TCM and supporting the country in promoting TCM to the international stage.
Director – General Chen Ronghu pointed out in his speech that the development of the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area is a major national strategy personally conceived, planned and promoted by President Xi Jinping. The National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine has always attached great significance to the development of TCM undertakings and industries in the Greater Bay Area. Thanks to the joint efforts of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the development of the Greater Bay Area into a highland for TCM has been continuously releasing new vitality and demonstrating new momentum.
Director Law Iek – long emphasized in his speech that “integration” is an inherent law governing the development of TCM and an inevitable choice for the future. As a city where Chinese and Western cultures converge, Macao has a profound understanding of and rich experience in “integration”. He presented four aspects of Macao’s integration efforts centered on this theme. Firstly, service integration, which involves building a medical ecosystem where traditional and modern medicine work in synergy. Secondly, cultural integration, focusing on inheriting the roots of Chinese culture and building an international bridge for cultural exchanges. Thirdly, talent integration, aiming to cultivate interdisciplinary professionals proficient in clinical practice, scientific research and international cooperation. Fourthly, regional integration, striving to develop the Greater Bay Area into a prominent hub for the global expansion of TCM. Director Law also noted that Macao will continue to take advantage of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, its close ties with the motherland and its role as a link connecting China with the rest of the world. He called on Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to join hands to establish a complete industrial chain covering research and development, transformation, registration, production and global market expansion, thus forging the Greater Bay Area into a pivotal gateway for the internationalization of TCM.
The theme of the conference was “Gathering of TCM Masters, Co – creation in the Bay Area, and Global Blossoming”. The main forum, themed “Global Development of Traditional Medicine: Policy Support, Scientific Innovation and Regional Cooperation”, explored approaches to deeply integrate traditional medicine into the modern medical system through scientific innovation and cross – regional collaboration. Subsequently, three parallel forums were held, focusing on the following topics respectively. First, TCM services, including TCM – led clinical services, their associated scientific research advancement, the standardization of TCM services and the construction of the Hong Kong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Second, the modern research on traditional medicine, covering the quality standards of medicinal herbs, clinical evidence of traditional medicine and the interactions between herbs and drugs. Third, the development of TCM standardization, including the research and formulation of TCM standards, the challenges encountered in their practical application and the feasibility of coordinating standards across different regions.
During the conference, Director Law Iek – long and other guests witnessed the signing of strategic cooperation agreements between the Hong Kong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and various provincial hospitals as well as international institutions. A number of TCM cooperation projects in the Greater Bay Area, including a collaboration project with the Kiang Wu Hospital in Macao, were also signed at the conference. These signings mark a new stage in the cooperation among medical and health institutions in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
At the closing session, Deputy Director Cheng Shing – yip of the Health Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government announced that the 8th Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Greater Bay Area Conference on the Inheritance, Innovation and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine will be held in Macao in 2026. He sincerely invited guests from all sectors to visit Macao at that time, calling on all parties to continue working together to promote the high – quality development of TCM in the Greater Bay Area, inherit this valuable cultural heritage and help it gain global recognition.
The conference was hosted by the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Health Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. It was co – organized by the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Macao delegation, consisting of around 20 members, included Liu Rui, Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, representatives from the Health Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and figures from Macao’s TCM industry.
