China-ASEAN conference boosts traditional medicine industry prospects

Over a hundred traditional and high-quality Chinese medicinal products, such as Guilingji and Dengkundan, have been selected as "China Time-Honored Brands".

In 2023, the industrial output value of traditional Chinese medicine in Shanxi reached around 10 billion yuan ($13.78 billion).

"Shanxi is a core area for authentic Chinese medicinal resources, an important birthplace of traditional Chinese medicine culture, an integrated area for industrial development, and a new highland for inheritance and innovation," said Zhao Hongyan, vice-governor of Shanxi. "China and ASEAN have a broad foundation for cooperation in the field of traditional Chinese medicine."

"I hope we can strengthen mutual learning and exchange, enhance cooperation consensus, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results based on industrial cooperation," she said.

Phinij Jarusombat, former deputy prime minister of Thailand and chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Promotion Association, gave a video address.

"The conference will promote traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Thai medicine, as well as communication and exchange about traditional medicines among various ASEAN countries, which will make important contributions to the development of traditional medicine cooperation between China and ASEAN."