Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai yesterday met with National Health Commission (NHC) Vice Minister Liu Jinfeng, who is also the director of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), where they exchanged views on deepening healthcare cooperation and promoting the development of Macau’s traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sector and big health industry, according to a statement by the Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS) last night.
NATCM is a deputy ministerial-level agency administered under the ministerial-level NHC.
During the meeting at the Government Headquarters, Sam welcomed Liu and his delegation to Macau for the 8th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Conference on Inheritance, Innovation and Development of TCM. Sam expressed his gratitude to the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for their long-standing support for Macau’s healthcare sector.
The one-day TCM conference was held in Macau yesterday.
In addition to Liu, the conference was also addressed by Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau Director Qiu Yahong, Hong Kong Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, and Macau Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long.
Sam underlined that the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government is committed to enhancing Macau’s overall medical standards and the quality of its healthcare services through the implementation of relevant initiatives outlined by Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan, and by strengthening collaboration with medical institutions in the Chinese mainland.
Sam underlined the MSAR Government’s commitment to diversifying Macau’s industrial structure – particularly by leveraging TCM as a key driver for the development of the big health industry.
Pointing out that Macau is home to the State Key Laboratory of Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine, Sam also noted that the Macao Sub-Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine of the Regional University-Industry Technology Transfer Centre (Greater Bay Area) was established late last year, while the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Big Health Overseas Service Centre was also established during that period. These developments have significantly strengthened Macau’s research capabilities, he said.
Combined with the MSAR’s policy advantages, they are effectively promoting the integration of industry, academia and research in the sector, while accelerating innovation, Sam said, adding that TCM enterprises from the Chinese mainland can leverage Macau’s international platform to bring high-quality products to global markets.
Liu said during the meeting that, under Sam’s leadership, Macau has made further progress in the development of TCM. The National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine has attached great importance to Macau’s role in this field and will continue to thoroughly implement President Xi Jinping’s important guidance on building a “Healthy China” and advancing TCM, he said.
Liu said that the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine will support Macau in aligning its development with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan in relation to the revitalisation of TCM. It will use the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao (located in Hengqin) as a key platform, and support Macau in enhancing the quality and efficiency of its TCM and big health industry. The two sides will work together to advance the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as a national hub for TCM, while contributing to Macau’s economic diversification and the long-term success of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Liu said.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai (right) meets with National Health Commission (NHC) Vice Minister and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) Director Liu Jinfeng at Government Headquarters yesterday. – Photo: GCS
