Liu Baoyan, president of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) and Chief Researcher of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, on Monday led a delegation to visit UNESCO and the United Nations Economic and Social Council in New York.
As of the end of 2022, WFAS had 264 member societies in 70 countries and regions, representing more than 400,000 acupuncture-moxibustion professionals.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices of acupuncture and moxibustion have been inscribed ion UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010.
Liu and the delegation met with Lily Gray, senior liaison officer at UNESCO's New York office. The two sides had a discussion about the protection and inheritance of acupuncture-moxibustion of TCM.
Founded in 1987 in Beijing, WFAS established official relations with the World Health Organization in 1998 and was accepted as an A-liaison organization by the International Organization for Standardization in 2010. It was also granted special consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2019, becoming the only TCM organization with that status then.
After gaining special consultative status, WFAS has actively participated in UN meetings and done its part to promote the WHO's goal of "Health for All." During the COVID-19 pandemic, WFAS filed a number of statements at the World Health Assembly and the Human Rights Council suggesting integration of traditional medicine in the fight against the pandemic.
During the visit to the United Nations, the delegation also met with Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, aiming to get more guidance from the UN to ensure acupuncture-moxibustion of Traditional Chinese medicine can play a bigger role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
In an interview with CGTN, Liu said that acupuncture has gradually entered the U.S. mainstream medical system and Chinese acupuncture has become the acupuncture of the world. "Acupuncture has spread to 196 countries and regions, and over 50 have created legislation regulating the practice. Many countries include acupuncture treatments in their medical insurance plans," Liu added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping calls traditional Chinese medicine "the treasure of ancient Chinese science." Liu emphasized that traditional Chinese medicine has been practiced for thousands of years, accumulating rich clinical experience. He also explained some key challenges in promoting TCM.
Fang Yigong, Vice Dean of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Hospital of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, told CGTN that the interest in acupuncture among foreigners is on the rise and a large number of international students now come to China to study.
"What actually impressed me was their passion for traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese culture. Effective acupuncture treatment would increase their interest in traditional Chinese medicine, so they would come to study. They also have persistence and dedication. Some of our students are older or have very promising jobs. But they chose to leave their jobs and start to learn acupuncture. It's quite touching for us," Fang said.
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