The School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) hosted the Forum on Quality Research and Standardisation of Chinese Medicines, jointly organised by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre and HKBU on 24 and 25 August. A total of 21 experts and scholars from mainland China, Macao and Hong Kong gathered on campus to share their knowledge and insights on major topics concerning the importance of quality research and standardisation of Chinese medicines.

The Forum focused on three themes: basic research, basic and clinical research of proprietary Chinese medicine, and research methodology. The speakers delivered talks with a view to facilitating exchanges and collaboration among academic institutions and research institutes in Hong Kong, Macao and mainland China. They also focused on contributing to the standardisation of Chinese medicines and the development of innovation and technology in order to speed up the advancement of Chinese medicines.

The opening ceremony of the Forum was officiated by Director of Division Ten of the Health Sciences of NSFC Ms Zhang Fengzhu, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office of NSFC Mr Wang Wenze, Deputy Inspector of the Education, Science and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Mr Zhang Zongming, Head of the Division of Academic and Training of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre Dr Zou Chonghua, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU Professor Roland Chin, and Dean of SCM Professor Lyu Aiping.

In his welcoming remarks, Professor Lyu Aiping said that the quality of Chinese medicines was a major concern among both Chinese medicine professionals and the general public. Moreover, despite the increasing popularity of Chinese medicine throughout the world and China’s rapid economic growth, the export of Chinese medicines was rather unsatisfactory. This shortcoming pointed to the lack of competitiveness of Chinese medicine products.

Professor Lyu pointed out that the standardisation and quality control of Chinese medicines were the keys to fostering the development of Chinese medicine and to strengthening its role in the healthcare systems in the country as well as elsewhere in the world.

With China’s implementation on 1 July 2017 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, which spells out the significant role and development direction as well as support measures for Chinese medicine, Professor Lyu believed that the thematic discussions at the Forum would further spur research on Chinese medicines.