Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, participated in the 8th International Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Education, held in Cairo from 13 to 15 November.
The conference, hosted in Egypt for the first time and marking the event’s debut in the Arab world, coincided with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China.
The gathering aims to strengthen co-operation in medical education, professional training, scientific research and the exchange of expertise in traditional Chinese medicine.
Addressing the conference, Abdel-Ghaffar highlighted the rich medical heritage shared by the Egyptian and Chinese civilisations and pointed to growing international interest in traditional Chinese practices, including acupuncture and herbal medicine.
He also praised the role of the Egyptian-Chinese University in advancing bilateral co-operation.
Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Adviser to the President for Health and Prevention Affairs, underlined the importance of training qualified professionals and developing evidence-based academic curricula.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ehab Hassanein highlighted the value of engagement with international expertise.
Karima Abdel Karim, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Egyptian-Chinese University, announced plans to establish a specialised research centre for traditional Chinese medicine, which is expected to become the largest facility of its kind in Africa.
Li Yu, Vice Chairperson of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS), said Egypt’s selection as host reflected the strength of Egyptian-Chinese relations and could pave the way for the establishment of a specialised academy.
The federation’s Vice President and Chair of its Educational Guidance Committee highlighted ongoing efforts to support educational institutions and professional training programmes across Africa.
Chinese Embassy Minister-Counsellor Zhang Yaqiang described the event as the first specialised conference on traditional Chinese medicine in the Arab region and commended the university’s efforts in promoting academic co-operation.
Xu Chunbo, Deputy Secretary-General of the WFCMS, called for stronger communication, greater innovation and the development of sustainable mechanisms for long-term collaboration.
