Belt and Road Central Asia Traditional Medicine Development Conference Held in Bishkek

Conference Venue

From September 14 to 16, the Belt and Road Central Asia Traditional Medicine Development Conference—held in conjunction with the 2026 Annual Academic Conference of the WFCMS Specialty Committee of Research and Cultural Inheritance of Dunhuang Medicine—took place in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The event was co-hosted by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) and Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, and co-organized by the Specialty Committee, the Kyrgyz State Medical Institute of Post-Graduate Training and Continuous Education named after S. B. Daniyarov, and the Key Laboratory of Dunhuang Medicine and Translational Research under the Ministry of Education.

Themed "Inheriting Traditional Medicine Wisdom, Advancing Central Asian Health," the conference brought together approximately 110 renowned scholars, clinical experts, and industry representatives from 11 countries, including China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and the Czech Republic. Delegates engaged in discussions on the inheritance, innovation, and collaborative development of traditional medicine, working toward a shared vision for a Health Silk Road.

Liang Zhaoguang, Party Secretary of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, remarked in his opening address that the ancient Silk Road witnessed the historic achievements of exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations. He described Dunhuang medicine as a "cultural gem" of this historic route, noted for its unique clinical value and rich humanistic heritage. He emphasized that the conference is a concrete step toward implementing the consensus of the SCO Bishkek meeting. "We are transforming healthcare cooperation into a practical pillar for the Belt and Road Initiative and the vision of a global community of health for all," Liang said. "By sharing ancient Eastern wisdom, we aim to build a bond that transcends borders, connecting hearts across China, Central Asia, and Europe in a shared commitment to human health."

Address by Liang Zhaoguang, Party Secretary of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine

Following the opening ceremony, Professor Li Jintian delivered a keynote presentation titled "Dunhuang Medicine and Wellness." On the evening of September 14, an International Youth Forum provided a platform for early-career scholars from China, Kyrgyzstan, and elsewhere to discuss a range of cutting-edge topics. An exhibition featuring appropriate TCM technologies and health products was also held concurrently, drawing significant interest from delegates.

As the first systematic showcase of the Dunhuang medicine academic system in the heart of Central Asia, the conference served to both honor the millennia-old Silk Road friendship and use Dunhuang medicine as a platform to promote the modernization of traditional medicine across participating BRI countries. By focusing on critical issues—including standardization, industrialization, and internationalization—the event helped build consensus on overcoming development bottlenecks. (Text/Photo by Gansu University of Chinese Medicine)