Global Milestones Mark the 2026 Traditional Medicine Conference

The World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 wrapped up in Beijing on October 18, leaving a profound impact on international health collaboration. This year’s gathering yielded essential advancements, including the Beijing Initiative, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable utilization of traditional medicinal plants.

Key Initiatives and Collaborations

Notable initiatives from the conference included the launch of the New-Era Shennong Herbal Project and the release of a comprehensive report on how artificial intelligence can promote the development of traditional medicine globally. A significant outcome was the establishment of the Global Alliance for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (GATIM), designed to elevate scientific collaboration across borders.

This biennial event took place at the China National Convention Center, co-hosted by multiple Chinese governmental agencies, alongside the World Health Organization (WHO). The conference is integral to China's Healthy China initiative—a strategy that aims to enhance health services while forging innovations in traditional healing practices, all under the guidance of President Xi Jinping.

Emphasizing the Role of Traditional Medicine

During the opening ceremony, Premier Li Qiang of the People's Republic of China spoke on the pivotal role of traditional medicine, asserting its unique capability to ensure human health and societal progress. "Traditional medicine has followed a distinctive path of development through long-term practice," he remarked, urging the global community to bolster cooperation to maximize the benefits of traditional medicine resources.

Li also stressed the importance of leveraging science and technology to foster innovative advancements in traditional practices. He announced initiatives to further the digital transformation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and encouraged participation from both domestic and international research institutions and businesses. He expressed China's readiness to initiate pilot programs to enhance the medical services sector and collaborate on the preservation of medicinal resources along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Advocating for Integration and Evidence

In a video address, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, emphasized the necessity of combining traditional knowledge with scientific insights. He advocated for a unified approach utilizing research, regulation, and quality assurance to improve health outcomes, stating, "This is not a choice between tradition and science."

Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala, the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, reiterated the importance of integrating traditional medicine into mainstream health systems. He highlighted this integration as a primary objective of WHO's Global Strategy on Traditional Medicine for 2025-2034. Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, Director of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, concluded the conference by celebrating the dialogues held, focusing on collaboration and scientific advancement in traditional medicine for both individual and planetary health.

Broad Participation and Discussions

The conference, themed “Technology Empowerment and Integrated Development: Advancing Traditional Medicine for All,” featured a variety of formats including government forums and ministerial roundtables. Through eight parallel workshops, attendees explored WHO’s objectives for traditional medicine, emphasizing the need for evidence-based integration, regulatory safety, and cross-sectoral action.

Over the course of the two-day event, nearly 2,000 participants, including experts and scholars from 103 countries, engaged in dialogue. Among them were 16 high-ranking health officials who delivered over 150 addresses and reports, addressing critical topics such as embedding traditional medicine within global health systems, ensuring safe practices, and exploring AI applications in the field.