Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the 20th fortnightly consultation session held by the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 17, 2024. [Xinhua/Liu Bin]

BEIJING -- The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held a regular consultation session on Monday to discuss how to support the preservation and innovative development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

The session was presided over by Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Wang stressed the need for more targeted and pragmatic research, deliberation and suggestions from CPPCC members to give full play to the role of TCM in advancing the Healthy China Initiative.

He called for deepened research on major issues including TCM preservation, sci-tech innovation, reforms and international cooperation. He also emphasized the promotion of TCM among the youth and to the world.

Ten CPPCC members and TCM expert Zhang Boli shared their opinions at the session. They agreed it was important to develop advantageous TCM specialties, improve systems for TCM-related sci-tech innovation and strengthen talent cultivation.

Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and National Medical Products Administration gave briefings on pertinent matters and exchanged views with CPPCC members.