Bangkok: Thailand and China are enhancing their collaboration in traditional medicine, setting a model for the integration of traditional knowledge with modern science.
According to Thai News Agency, the partnership between the Guangxi Herbal Botanical Garden and Thailand underscores China's recognition of the potential in Thai traditional medicine as part of its strategic policy focused on industrial reform through innovation and advanced technology. This collaboration aims to enhance the production of innovative traditional medicines and jointly protect valuable herbal resources.
Ms. Shen Yuanyuan, Director of the Guangxi Herbal Botanical Garden International Cooperation and Exchange Center, highlighted Thailand's reputation for effective medicine production and a well-developed public health system. The biopharmaceutical industry is a key focus for the Thai government, prompting the Guangxi Herbal Botanical Garden to strengthen cooperation through importing production technology and promoting international innovation.
In July, a delegation from the Guangxi Herbal Botanical Garden visited Thailand for the 22nd National Herbal Medicine Conference and Exhibition and the ASEAN Conference on Traditional and Alternative Medicine in Bangkok. Mr. Zhang Zhanjiang, Secretary-General of the Party Committee and Director of the garden, delivered a keynote address on Chinese medicinal resources and their applications, emphasizing the integration of cultural heritage with modern medical practices in line with China's vision of innovation.
Bilateral discussions with Thailand's Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine focused on areas such as the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plant resources and establishing international standards for traditional medicine. Ms. Suphorn Ingudomnukul, Deputy Director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), praised China's achievements in herbal product research and conservation. She expressed the GPO's readiness to collaborate with China in medicine quality identification and joint product development.
Beyond policy exchanges, Thailand has actively participated in training programs organized by the Guangxi Herbal Botanical Garden, aimed at building a skilled workforce and transferring herbal resource management technologies. The Guangxi Herbal Botanical Garden plans to expand cooperation with ASEAN countries, including Thailand, through technology exchange, industrial supply chain connections, and herbal conservation exchange programs. The focus will also be on promoting the sustainable development of traditional medicine internationally, utilizing Big Data and Biotechnology to transform herbal medicine into globally recognized industrialized medicine.