Mozambique embraces TCM, courtesy of Hengqin park

Guangdong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Science & Technology Industrial Park recently initiated the exchange of traditional medicines and cooperation with African Portuguese-speaking countries, international product registration, and import and export trade.

The industrial park in Hengqin New Area in Zhuhai recently sent a delegation to Mozambique, to which they were invited to share traditional medical practices. Hengqin's TCM park is dedicated to the culture of traditional Chinese medicine, building a green and smart area, forging an international base for quality traditional Chinese medicine, and creating an international location for healthcare trade.

The delegation held talks with representatives from the Mozambique Ministry of Health, Bureau of Medical Affairs, Institute of Traditional Medicine, Public Health Agency, Health Supervision Bureau, Medical Assistance Bureau, China Embassy in Mozambique, Economic & Commercial Counselor's Office, Chinese Medical Team to Mozambique, and Maputo General Hospital. The representatives also spoke with local enterprises engaged in import and export, production and sale of medicine and health care products, colleges and universities, traditional medicine professional association, traditional Chinese medicine clinics, and traditional medical markets.   

Discussed with the Ministry of Health of Mozambique were issues arising from cooperation in traditional medicine, the status of public medical service in Mozambique, the development of traditional medicine, and products and market conditions.

Nazira Abdula, minister of health, stated during the talks that traditional Chinese medicine technologies such as acupuncture had gained acceptance and favor among Mozambique people after China sent a medical team to the country. Mozambique hopes to master the theories and technologies of traditional Chinese medicine. It wants to develop its native medicine by combining it with traditional Chinese treatments. The country also expects to gain China's early support for cooperation with the industrial park in the fields of traditional medicine legislation, professional training, technical support, R&D and industrialization.

Other heads from organizations such as the Mozambique Institute of Traditional Medicine, Bureau of Medicine Affairs, Public Health Agency, Health Supervision Bureau, and Medical Assistance Bureau also showed willingness for the industrial park to supply advanced experience of traditional Chinese medicine R&D, management and quality control to help develop Mozambique's traditional medicine.

Su Jian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to the Republic of Mozambique; and Commercial Counselor Wang Lipei introduced in detail the development history of traditional Chinese medicine in Mozambique and the 40-year project to assist Mozambique's medical development. They praised the industrial park for promoting the internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine and advancing exchange and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries. They also hoped the industrial park would exercise its advantages to bring about communication in traditional Chinese medicine and cooperation with Mozambique and similar countries.

Xie Yi, deputy chief executive officer of the industrial park, said during the visit: "Our industrial park will actively take part in traditional medicine exchange and cooperation between China and Mozambique, in the hope that we can assist Mozambique to further develop its traditional medicine. We are pleased to offer training methods, corporate-hospital exchanges, technical resources and sharing of experts to advance cooperative development in this industry."