photo: chinaembassy.cz/J. E. Ambassador ZHANG Jianmin
TCM is a present of people of China to the nations all over the world. It use to say ambassadors, in a case concerning to TCM promotion in states abroad. TCM WORLD had a talk with J. E. Ambassador of P. R. China in Prague, Mr. ZHANG Jianmin:
Mr. President Xi Jinping declared, TCM is one of the most important parts of Belt and Road project. Did he mean it as activities for countries all over the world?
答：中医药在海外的发展历史由来已久，民间中医药活动可以追溯到“海上”和“陆上”丝绸之路之初。中医药作为“一带一路”重要内容，成为国家层面合作的重要议题，既有利于世界了解中国，又有利于世界人民健康。中医药国际合作需求日益提升，在“一带一路”框架下，中国与其他国家签署了86个政府间中医药合作协议；在中外自贸协定中，有14个包含中医药内容；中国与捷克、吉尔吉斯斯坦、乌克兰、澳大利亚和匈牙利等国签署了中医药领域合作协议。
译文：It has been a long time since the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) started its overseas development, which could date back to the early days of the silk routes, both over land and at sea. As an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), TCM has become an important area for state-to-state cooperation. Through TCM, the world gets to know China better and people could enjoy better health. Answering to the increasing needs, China has signed 86 inter-governmental agreements on TCM cooperation under the BRI framework and 14 Free Trade Agreements that include TCM-related clauses. Besides, China has concluded agreements on TCM cooperation respectively with the Czech Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Australia, Hungary and more.
What about results of the fight against covid-19 - do you know any science studies, used TCM herbs and methods?
答：在抗击新冠肺炎疫情中，以“三药三方”为代表的中医药发挥了重要作用，显示出良好的临床疗效。中医药在普通型和重型的转化过程中已经看到了疗效，重症治疗中发挥了一定的作用，在康复治疗中有非常重要的作用。因此，2020年6月中国国务院新闻办公室发布的《抗击新冠肺炎疫情的中国行动》白皮书中，充分肯定了中医药在抗击新冠肺炎疫情中的贡献。其中指出，中医药参与救治确诊病例的占比达到92%。湖北省确诊病例中医药使用率和总有效率超过90%。
译文：In the fight against COVID-19, TCM has been proven effective and played an important role. Among others, TCM drugs and herbal formulas with outstanding effectiveness include Jinhua Qinggan Granules, Lianhua Qingwen Capsules/Granules, Xuebijing Injection, Lung Cleansing and Detoxifying Preparation, Dampness Resolving and Detoxifying Preparation, and Lung Diffusing and Detoxifying Preparation. It was indicated that TCM can help prevent mild and moderate cases from getting worse, treat serious cases, and speed up recovery. Based on these results, the efficacy of TCM was fully recognized in the white paper titled “Fighting Covid-19 China in Action” released by the State Council Information Office of China in June 2020. According to the white paper, Chinese herbal formulas and drugs were administered to 92 percent of all confirmed cases. In Hubei Province, more than 90 percent of confirmed cases received TCM treatment with proven effectiveness.
Could experiences of Chinese TCM doctors be used for other countries?
答：新冠肺炎疫情期间，中国国家中医药管理局广泛开展了国际合作，将中医药治疗新冠肺炎患者的经验分享给全世界。主要包括：一是发布包括清肺排毒汤等有效方剂在内的新冠肺炎中医药诊疗方案，并与意大利、德国、日本、韩国、巴基斯坦等82个国家和地区开展交流；二是根据国外需求，支持有关机构向十几个国家和地区捐赠了15批中医药物资，包括中成药、饮片、针灸针等，组建中医药抗疫专家组，建设中医药国际会诊平台。
译文：To fight the pandemic, China’s National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) has been working with many countries and sharing its experience in TCM treatment. To that end, NATCM has released a TCM treatment plan including the Lung Cleansing and Detoxifying Preparation and other effective formulas and had exchanges with 82 countries and regions including Italy, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Pakistan. Based on the specific needs of foreign countries, NATCM supported the donation of 15 batches of TCM supplies to more than a dozen countries and regions through Chinese institutions. The supplies include finished TCM drugs, prepared drugs in pieces and acupuncture needles. Besides, a panel of TCM experts has been formed and an international platform for TCM consultation established for professional discussions.
Chinese TCM doctors have been working abroad, in Italy, Netherlands, USA, at universities and medical centers, hospitals. Are you in contact with them?
答：没有。
译文：No.
In the Czech Republic, we have not the best conditions for the development of TCM yet. What do you mean to be chosen at first? The public is very interested in using TCM here.
答：捷克民众对中医药的兴趣让我印象深刻，作为中国驻捷克大使，我希望中医药能够为越来越多的捷克民众带来健康，也希望捷克能够提供法律规定方面条件。
译文：I am deeply impressed by the enthusiasm of the Czech people for TCM. As the Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, I hope that TCM will help bring better health to more and more Czech people. To make it possible, we look forward to further legal facilitation in the Czech Republic.
Do you mean, TCM development could be supported in European countries as integrated system?
答：中医和起源于欧洲的西医虽属于两个不同的医学体系，对健康、疾病有不同的认识角度，但是它们都以临床疗效为基础。目前，中医药已传播到183个国家和地区。第72届世界卫生大会通过了《国际疾病分类第11次修订本》，首次纳入了起源于中医药的传统医学章节。我们支持中医药在包括捷克在内的欧洲各国发展，在当地法律允许的范围内，与西医一起，服务欧洲人民的健康。
译文：As Western medicine originated from Europe, it belongs to a medical system that is different from TCM. It’s natural that TCM and Western medicine define health and disease in their own ways, but both are based on clinical efficacy. As of now, TCM has been practiced in 183 countries and regions. It is noteworthy that the 72nd World Health Assembly has for the first time included a chapter about traditional medicines that originated from ancient China in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision. We support the law-based development of TCM in the Czech Republic and other European countries so that it could, alongside Western medicine, serve the well being of the European people.
Are there conditions for cooperation in marketing, herbs business and education in TCM?
答：对于中医药领域内的各种合作，中方一贯持积极态度，在符合捷克法律的前提下，我们支持市场营销、中医药产业和中医教育等形式的合作。
译文：China is very willing to have TCM cooperation in various forms with others. We are ready to support further TCM cooperation in marketing, industry, education and other areas under the framework of Czech laws.
Would you suggest to build up the center for scientific research of TCM, to share knowledge with Western medicine?
答：推动中医药国际发展的同时，中国高度重视发挥现代循证医学作用，开展中医药科研活动。中国国家中医药管理局在这方面开展了大量工作，依托中国中医科学院成立了中国中医药循证医学中心，还通过中医药国际合作专项支持开展中医药国际科技合作。听说中捷中医中心在考虑与中方合作伙伴开展中医药研发合作。我非常高兴看到中捷在中医药领域的合作能够更进一步，使馆将一如既往提供支持和服务。
译文：While promoting the overseas development of TCM, China has been using modern evidence-based medicine in the scientific research into TCM. To that end, NATCM has set up the China Centre for Evidence-based Medicine in TCM with the support of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has also supported international scientific and technological cooperation in TCM through the Special Project for International Cooperation. I am pleased to learn that the Info Centre TCM Prague is considering plans to work with its Chinese partners for TCM R&D, which will further China-Czech cooperation on TCM. Please rest assured that the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic will continue to provide its support in this regard.
By Jan HOVORKA, TCM WORLD