On October 16, the 55th National Medicinal Materials and Pharmaceutical Trade Fair kicked off in Zhangshu, Jiangxi Province, hosted by the China Traditional Chinese Medicine Association. The event drew nearly 10,000 representatives from the pharmaceutical sector, including industry experts, medical enterprises, hospitals, pharmacies, and distributors from across the country.
Jiangxi is renowned for its rich resources in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has established itself as a stronghold in the field. Over its more than fifty years of history, the Zhangshu trade fair has become a hallmark for the development of the TCM industry in the region.
This year’s trade fair features a robust agenda, including an opening ceremony, business and exhibition activities, and cultural tourism events, comprising a total of seven activities. There are two main exhibition halls: a professional hall and a consumer hall, with various sections dedicated to traditional Chinese medicine pieces, pharmaceutical equipment, and more.
The “Standardization Action Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine (2024-2026),” set to be released at the end of July 2024, aims to optimize and enhance the TCM standard system, with targets to establish 180 domestic standards and 30 international standards by the end of 2026.
During the opening ceremony, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) officially released the international standard for “Traditional Chinese Medicine—Gardenia,” which marks Jiangxi’s first international standard in the medicinal material sector. Shen Yuandong, Chair of the ISO/TC249, emphasized that the implementation of this standard will expand the international trade routes for Zhangshu’s gardenia industry, increasing the market competitiveness and international influence of authentic Chinese medicinal materials from Zhangshu.
In the afternoon, at the 2024 Jiangxi (Yichun·Zhangshu) Pharmaceutical Industry Investment Promotion Conference, Dai Mingming, Research Manager at the Southern Institute of Pharmaceutical Economic Research under the National Medical Products Administration, highlighted the increasing integration of the TCM industry across its supply chain. “Developing the TCM industry requires actively promoting its integration with modern service industries such as health care, eldercare, tourism, the internet, fitness, and food. This will foster new industries, new business formats, and new models,” he stated.
The ten-day exhibition will also showcase a variety of cultural events, including traditional Zhangshu medicine preparation demonstrations, the Gozha Mountain Ancestor Worship Ceremony and Lingbao Cultural Performance, large-scale free clinics by renowned TCM practitioners, and a TCM cultural night market, promising visitors a grand celebration of TCM culture.
