This photo taken on Sept. 9, 2025 shows the site of 2025 International (Bozhou) TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) Expo and the 41st National (Bozhou) TCM Trade Fair in Bozhou, east China's Anhui Province. The expo has attracted many international traders, presenting opportunities to further boost the global reach of TCM. (Xinhua)

HEFEI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) expo being held in east China's Anhui Province has attracted many international traders, presenting opportunities to further boost the global reach of TCM.

The 2025 International (Bozhou) TCM Expo and the 41st National (Bozhou) TCM Trade Fair in the city of Bozhou attracted around 120 foreign guests from 13 countries, including traders and TCM association representatives.

Dubbed the capital of the Chinese medicinal herb industry, Bozhou is home to the country's largest medicinal herbs market and distribution center.

Among the traders is Nguyen Hong Thanh, general director of Thang Long Traditional Medicine Company from Vietnam. In addition to seeking suppliers of medicinal herbs, he hoped to take this opportunity to learn cultivation techniques from local growers and study TCM diagnosis and treatment to better integrate it with traditional Vietnamese medicine.

"With its efficacy increasingly acknowledged globally, TCM is gaining popularity in Vietnam," said Nguyen, whose company imports between 500 and 700 tonnes of medicinal herbs from China annually.

The parallels between traditional Vietnamese medicine and TCM have facilitated the latter's expansion in Vietnam, he added.

Leong Yee Piau, managing director of Wanfong Medical Hall and vice chairman of Malaysian Chinese Medical Association, shared similar views on the growing acceptance of TCM. His company, which sells over 2,000 varieties of Chinese medicinal herbs and herbal teas in Malaysia, has reported steady sales growth in recent years.

"I also run a TCM clinic offering acupuncture, massage and other physical therapies, serving over 10,000 customers annually," Leong said. With a growing number of such clinics, TCM has entered the lives of many in Malaysia, he said.

From Southeast Asia to Europe and Africa, TCM is expanding its global footprint and gaining a growing number of international followers.

Data from China's National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine showed that TCM is now practiced in 196 countries and regions. China has also signed TCM cooperation agreements with over 40 foreign governments as well as regional and international organizations.

Many Chinese pharmaceutical companies have made huge progress in overseas markets. Anhui Jiren Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. entered the European market in 2018 and so far, 193 types of its TCM granules have passed official German quality inspections and are available in the EU market.

"China's TCM faces challenges in going abroad, including different registration requirements, a lack of mutual recognition for standards, and intellectual property protection," said Zhu Qiang, deputy general manager of Anhui Jiren Pharmaceutical.

"We are exploring new approaches to bring more of our products to the global market, including strengthening ties with overseas research institutions to prove TCM's efficacy with scientific evidence," Zhu said.

Beyond Chinese patent medicines, the company also promotes TCM healthcare products in Europe. Earlier this year, one of its TCM beverages became available in certain cafés and pharmacies in Hamburg, Germany.

"From treatment to wellness, we seek to embed TCM's health-preserving culture into Europeans' daily lives through edible herbal products that can serve both as food and medicine," Zhu added, viewing this as a route to greater recognition and acceptance of TCM globally.

TCM is also benefiting more people in Africa. China has signed memorandums of understanding on traditional medicine cooperation with countries like Algeria and Ghana, and established TCM centers in countries like the Comoros and Zimbabwe. The artemisinin-based antimalarial project has also exemplified TCM's impact on the continent.

China's younger generation of entrepreneurs is turning to e-commerce platforms overseas to promote TCM's global reach.

Since launching their first online store on a Malaysian platform in 2023, 27-year-old Song Ye and his team have opened eight such stores, selling more than 30 edible herbal products, including herbal teas, with sales exceeding 5 million yuan (about 704,000 U.S. dollars) in the first half of this year.

"E-commerce offers broader reach and lower costs. By combining local platforms with overseas warehouses, Malaysian customers could receive their goods within three days of placing the orders," said Song, general manager of Anhui Bafang Health Industry Development Group Co., Ltd.

Moving forward, the company plans to replicate this model in more countries to promote Chinese medicinal products and health-keeping concepts, Song said.

Song expressed optimism about TCM's global prospects, noting that while it has a history spanning thousands of years, it is also evolving through innovation and alignment with international standards. "Its value will surely be recognized by more people worldwide," he said. ■

Visitors learn about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products during 2025 International (Bozhou) TCM Expo and the 41st National (Bozhou) TCM Trade Fair in Bozhou, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 8, 2025. The expo has attracted many international traders, presenting opportunities to further boost the global reach of TCM. (Xinhua)