Beijing (TDI): Pakistan and China are exploring opportunities to expand cooperation in traditional medicine, with Pakistan’s ambassador to China, Dr. Syed Ali Asad Gilani, calling for joint research, scientific evaluation and the development of quality-assured herbal products.
Speaking at a seminar in Beijing on promoting the traditional medicine industry between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Traditional Medicine Industry Alliance and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (OIC-COMSTECH), Gilani said Pakistan valued China’s experience and technological advances in traditional medicine.
He said Pakistan was keen to learn from China while contributing its own expertise, resources and traditional medicinal knowledge.
According to China Economic Net (CEN), the seminar examined traditional medicine markets across SCO and OIC member states, registration and regulatory frameworks, research and development, clinical evaluation, manufacturing standards, quality control and opportunities for international cooperation.
More than 20 traditional medicine experts and scholars from China, Iran, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Uzbekistan participated in the event, alongside more than 100 representatives from Chinese research institutes, traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and enterprises.
Gilani described the seminar as timely, noting that countries were increasingly exploring sustainable and accessible healthcare solutions. He said traditional medicine offered opportunities for research, innovation, industrial development and international collaboration.
He highlighted the relevance of traditional Chinese medicine, Unani medicine and traditional Arab medicine, arguing that traditional knowledge could be developed further through modern scientific research, advanced manufacturing, quality-control systems and international partnerships.
The ambassador pointed to two existing initiatives as foundations for deeper cooperation: the Sino-Pakistan Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University of Karachi and the Pakistan-Zhejiang Joint Laboratory for Research and Development of Herbal Medicine at Ningbo University.
He said these platforms could strengthen collaboration among universities, research institutions, hospitals and private-sector enterprises.
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Gilani called for moving beyond institutional arrangements towards practical outcomes, including joint research projects, training programs for doctors and researchers, academic exchanges, scientific assessment of medicinal plants and herbal formulations, and the development of products that meet established quality standards.
He also stressed the importance of connecting research with production and commercial applications, while ensuring that traditional medicinal products undergo appropriate scientific evaluation and quality assurance.
Gilani said Pakistan was ready to work with China, OIC-COMSTECH, the SCO Traditional Medicine Industry Alliance and other participating countries to advance cooperation across the sector.
He called for partnerships covering the entire traditional medicine value chain, from research and the cultivation of medicinal plants to scientific validation, manufacturing, quality assurance and responsible commercialisation.
The proposed approach would seek to combine traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods and production technologies, potentially creating opportunities for researchers, healthcare institutions and businesses in participating countries.
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The seminar provided a platform for discussions on regulatory systems, product development and cross-border cooperation, areas that can shape how traditional medicine products are evaluated, manufactured and introduced into different markets.
For Pakistan and China, translating existing research partnerships into collaborative projects and scientifically evaluated products could provide a basis for expanding bilateral cooperation in traditional medicine and herbal research.
