On December 7, the 2022 Austria-China Online Symposium on Future Trend in Traditional Chinese Medicine, co-sponsored by China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences(CACMS) and Austria Eurasia Pacific Uninet(EUP), was held in the form of video conference. Experts from Austria and China exchanged ideas about the current research and future direction of traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine against COVID-19 and other topics. More than 40 researchers from various institutions of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences participated in the symposium online. 

Huang Luqi, deputy director of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, extended warm congratulations on the success of this symposium. He reviewed the cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine between Chinese and Austrian governments, affirmed the significant achievements of both sides in the cooperation in traditional Chinese medicine, and hoped that medical experts from both countries would seize the opportunity and ride on the momentum to meet people’s health needs, further expand and deepen practical cooperation, promote joint construction of a community with a shared healthcare future for mankind, and ultimately traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine would make more contributions to the health of the people worldwide.

Speech by Huang Luqi, deputy director of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Li Kun, Vice President of CACMS said that CACMS has attached great importance to the cooperation with Austria in traditional Chinese medicine, especially that the cooperation between China and Austria in traditional Chinese medicine will move into a new step with the construction of "the Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Major Infectious Diseases by Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and Austria. She said that with the strong support of the Chinese and Austrian governments and the right leadership of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, medical experts from both countries will continue to work hard to overcome medical challenges and make new contributions to human health and people's well-being.

Speech by Li Kun, vice president of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Lei Fengyun, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Austria, congratulated on the success of this event, and extended sincere greetings to the Chinese and Austrian experts, guests from all walks of life as well as scientists and researchers of Chinese medicine who had participated in and supported the research and application of Chinese medicine against COVID-19. He affirmed the important role of Chinese medicine in combating COVID-19, and hoped that Chinese medicine would be more effective in preventing and treating major infectious diseases, protecting people's health and other fields in the future.

Speech by Lei Fengyun, counsellor for scientific and technological affairs
of the Chinese Embassy in Austria

Mr. Rausch pointed out that Austria and China share a long history of cooperation in the research of traditional Chinese medicine. Currently, the impact of COVID-19 has restricted the exchange of information, but the holding of this online symposium is a silver lining. He affirmed the construction of "the Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Major Infectious Diseases by Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and Austria, and hoped that China and Austria would make more efforts in the research on cardiovascular complications and tumors.

Speech by professor Rausch, president of the Eurasia Pacific Uninet

Professor Rudolf Bauer affirmed the outstanding contribution of China-Austrian Research Alliance in the international cooperation and research of Chinese medicine. He believed that Chinese medicine is a cultural heritage that China provides to the world, and researches should be done by combining the treatment plans of traditional medicine in the East and West and western medicine. He hoped that China and Austria could further strengthen cooperation in the field of Chinese medicine.

Speech by professor Rudolf Bauer, head of the Research Alliance of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Austria

In the keynote report, professor Rudolf Bauer from the Institute of Pharmacy of University of Graz gave a lecture on Sino-Austrian Joint Research Project - Metabolism and Pharmacological Analysis of Cold-Dampness Epidemic Prescription for the Treatment of COVID-19. Professor Gerhard Litscher from the Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Medical University of Graz made a report on The Importance of Transcranial Light Bioregulation, Light Acupuncture and Laser Medicine in the COVID-19 Era. Professor Christian Huck from the Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry of University of Innsbruck gave a talk on New Analytical Tools in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Related Research. Professor Ma Yan from Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology Center of pathophysiology of Medical University of Vienna delivered a speech on Chinese Herbs Used by Hospital Staff and Long-term COVID-19 Patients.

Song Ping, director of the International Cooperation Department of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, gave a speech on the Construction of "the Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Major Infectious Diseases by Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and Austria. Yuan Yuan, researcher of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource Center made a report on Pharmacognostical Research of Exotic Chinese Herbs: Taking Acroptilon Repens as an Example. Li Min, researcher of Guang'anmen Hospital delivered a speech on Differentiation and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine for COVID-19. Li Ning, researcher of Institute of Basic Theory for Chinese Medicine, gave a talk on the Antiviral Effect and Mechanism of Bionic High-density Lipoprotein.

Group photo of attendees

Austrian experts reached a consensus on the new achievements and contributions of traditional Chinese medicine in the current era, believing that traditional Chinese medicine would be more promising in the future and recognizing the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The Austrian side hopes to give further play to the distinctive advantages of Chinese medicine in Europe, apply the unique methods of disease prevention and treatment of Chinese medicine to clinical treatment in Europe, and look forward to continuous exchanges and mutual learning between China and Austria in various fields of Chinese medicine in the future.

(Source: Website of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences)