Recently, Yu Yanhong, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the National Health Commission and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, together with Sun Da, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, visited Guangzhou in Guangdong Province to conduct research on implementing the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, accelerating the modernization and industrialization of TCM, and promoting the high-quality development of TCM as both a cause and an industry. During the visit, they conducted on-site inspections of TCM-related work in Guangzhou and held symposiums and exchanges with heads of relevant institutions.

Yu Yanhong and Sun Da, accompanied by their delegation, paid an in-depth visit to the Conghua District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, touring the Famous Doctors’ Studios, the Prevention-of-Disease Department, and the Bian Stone Therapy Department. They gained a thorough understanding of the hospital’s specialized departments and its overall development, and also conducted field research at the Lingnan TCM Culture Expo Park and the Eco-Design Town in Conghua District. During these visits, they held in-depth discussions with relevant officials on implementing the new development philosophy, promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of TCM health and wellness culture, and advancing high-quality integrated development of medicine and engineering. In addition, the delegation visited Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group, where they toured the Shennong Caotang Chinese Medicine Garden, the Group’s exhibition on combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Wang Laoji Herbal Tea Museum.

Yu Yanhong pointed out that Guangzhou, as a vanguard of reform and opening-up and the primary birthplace and hub of Lingnan traditional Chinese medicine, has a solid foundation and distinct advantages in TCM work, placing it at the forefront of the nation in both the development of TCM undertakings and the TCM industry. It is essential to further study and thoroughly grasp the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on TCM work, earnestly implement the “Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Promoting the Inheritance, Innovation, and Development of TCM” and the guiding principles of the National TCM Conference, seize historical opportunities, courageously assume responsibilities and take action, leverage our own strengths, adhere to the principle of inheriting the essence while upholding fundamental principles and pursuing innovation, and play an even more significant role in routine COVID-19 prevention and control as well as in building Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area into a leading center for TCM. We must strengthen the pool of TCM talent in grassroots TCM hospitals and enhance mentorship and apprenticeship programs for TCM physicians; fully harness the unique advantages and efficacy of TCM in disease prevention and treatment; intensify the promotion of appropriate TCM techniques at the grassroots level; and ensure that TCM truly benefits more members of the public. We should draw extensively on the cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary approach to talent and technology integration exemplified by eco-design towns, dare to break free from conventional thinking, and drive the modernization, industrialization, and high-quality development of TCM. Moreover, we must make full use of our resource advantages to advance research on the conservation of medicinal herbs, promote the cultivation of authentic, regionally specific medicinal materials, and vigorously carry out public education and cultural dissemination about TCM, thereby laying a solid material foundation and fostering a favorable social environment for the inheritance, innovation, and development of TCM.

Accompanying the delegation on the inspection were Huang Luqi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Zhu Haidong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Xu Qingfeng, Director of the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Zhuang Yuequn, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Conghua District in Guangzhou; and Li Chuyuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group.