Chongqing- Southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality has been approved to construct the first national traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) service export base, according to a relevant list announced on March 12.
The list of the second batch of national TCM service export bases jointly announced by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine showed that Chongqing Taiji Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. was awarded as one of the 14 national TCM service export bases.
Chinese Medicine Trade Fair in 2020. (iChongqing file photo)
Export to over 20 countries and regions
Chongqing Taiji Industry, a leading Chinese medicine company, serves as one of the top ten companies in China's pharmaceutical industry.
Its subsidiary, Chongqing Medicines & Health Products Import & Export Co., Ltd., has taken root in the TCM service trade for many years.
The company has its sales networks expanding in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries and radiates over 800 terminals in Southeast Asia, 300 of which are TCM clinics. Achieving TCM service trade of 15.5 million yuan (2.44 million U.S. dollars), it provides TCM consultation and health care services for about 250,000 patients and TCM training services for 6,700 overseas personnel.
The Taiji series of trademarks have been registered in more than 20 countries and regions with 60 international ones.
Chongqing Taiji Industry exports more than 30 varieties of products to over 20 countries and regions, involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, North America, Hong Kong, and Macau. It also has healthcare institutions, education and training institutions, and some service trade institutions in pharmaceutical research and development and cultural promotion.
Overseas TCM center
Behind the progress of the national TCM service export base is a slew of preferential policies rolled out by Chongqing in recent years.
This is based on the regional TCM advantages and an increasing outflow effect of national policies, including the construction of national service outsourcing demonstration cities, the comprehensive deepening of the innovation trials for service trade, and the expansion of comprehensive trials on the service's service opening-up.
The Chongqing Municipal People's Government has issued a guideline on promoting the inheritance, innovation, and development of TCM, which encourages the community of healthcare practitioners, to build high-quality TCM overseas centers, international cooperation, and service export bases, and develop trade in Chinese medicine services.
In addition, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce supports trade in TCM services, including international certification, talent training, exhibitions, and public services.
The commission also gives corresponding policy and financial support to the construction of national TCM service export bases.
In the future, Chongqing Taiji Industry will take advantage of TCM culture, resources, industry, and scientific research, boost Chongqing's TCM service trade, and enhance the international influence of Chongqing's TCM services.
A picture of Chongqing from the angle of the Jiangbeizui area. (iChongqing/ Vivian Yan)
(Shi Jiaqi, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)