During the “China-Sri Lanka Traditional Medicine Development Seminar”, a warm birthday celebration emerged as a vivid testament to the friendship between the two countries. Learning that a Sri Lankan trainee was celebrating a birthday, Xiyuan Hospital meticulously prepared a special cake and birthday gifts. All the trainees, along with the Chinese staff, gathered together during a break to celebrate the occasion by singing the Happy Birthday song. In the flickering candlelight, birthday wishes of “Happy Birthday” flowed between Chinese and Sinhalese. The birthday trainee emotionally said, “This is not only a surprise for my personal birthday, but it also makes me feel the warmth of family and experience the profound friendship of our Chinese friends”.

This “China-Sri Lanka Traditional Medicine Development Seminar” hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and undertaken by Xiyuan Hospital, was launched in Beijing on July 17, with 30 trainees from Sri Lanka embarking on a 14-day intensive training program. At the opening ceremony, Li Qiuyan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Xiyuan Hospital, emphasized that traditional medicine embodied profound wisdom and served as a bridge for dialogue among civilizations. She looked forward to the trainees personally experiencing the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine and China’s unique public health system integrating both Chinese and Western medicine. Professor Karunagoda from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka fondly reflected on the millennia-old exchanges between the two countries, and expressed that, “We are continuing this friendship by building new cooperation bridges in traditional medicine, and we hope to apply what we learn to improve Sri Lanka’s healthcare system”.

Throughout the seminar, the trainees showed strong interest in the diagnostic and treatment models of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and actively participated in interactive experiences, creating a lively atmosphere of exchange.

Trainees experienced common external TCM therapies, such as moxibustion cupping and bamboo cupping, at the Nursing Outpatient Department.

Trainees immersed themselves in learning at the Disease Prevention Center and the hospital’s Cultural Corridor, etc., gaining a deep understanding of the TCM philosophy of “Preventing Disease Before It Occurs”.

Trainees attentively listened to lectures on the Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (left) and experienced traditional health exercises “Baduanjin (Eight-Section Brocade)” under expert guidance (right).

Trainees visited Shandong Province for inspection and study

As a key base for foreign aid training by the Ministry of Commerce, Xiyuan Hospital has trained over 3,000 health professionals from more than 100 countries worldwide over the past 15 years. This Seminar is not only about knowledge sharing but also a new chapter in the ongoing China-Sri Lanka friendship in the new era. In June 2024, Xiyuan Hospital signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine in Sri Lanka. The successful organization of this Seminar, along with its warm interactions, further highlight the unique charm of TCM as a cultural bond and health ambassador, adding a warm and solid step toward building a “Healthy Silk Road”.

Source: International Exchange & Cooperation Office, XiyuanHospital