President Chen Shui-bian (
Addressing the opening of the 14th International Congress of Oriental Medicine at National Taiwan University's International Convention Center, Chen said that traditional Oriental medicine has provided a major alternative to Western medicine, particularly in the treatment of chronic diseases and senility.
Chen said that as a result of the clinically proven results of Oriental medicine, the WHO said in 2002 that member countries should incorporate traditional medicine into their national health policies.
ACHIEVEMENTS
He said that in the three decades since 1976, when the first International Congress of Oriental Medicine was held in Seoul, practitioners and researchers of traditional medicine from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and many other countries have made groundbreaking achievements and commendable contributions in the struggle to treat illnesses and improve the quality of people's lives.
In Taiwan, thanks to the concerted efforts of the Democratic Progressive Party administration and the private sector, the research and development of traditional medicine and pharmaceuticals has progressed by leaps and bounds in recent years, he said.
Chen expressed admiration for the Department of Health's Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy; the Taichung-based China Medical University; and the Bureau of National Health Insurance for their promotion of traditional medicine and pharmaceuticals as an alternative to Western medicine.
PARTICIPANTS
More than 2,000 medical professionals and researchers from Australia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Macau, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Russia, the UK, the US and Taiwan are taking part in the congress.
The event ends tomorrow.
A total of 38 specialists, including David Eisenberg, director of Harvard Medical School's Osher Institute, will deliver speeches during the three-day event, organizers said.
The International Congress of Oriental Medicine -- a major undertaking of the International Society of Oriental Medicine -- has convened every two or three years in Asia, the US and Europe.
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
ECONOMIC BENEFITS: The imports from Belize would replace those from Honduras, whose shrimp exports have dropped 67 percent since cutting ties in 2023 Maintaining ties with Taiwan has economic benefits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said yesterday, citing the approval of frozen whiteleg shrimp imports from Belize by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an example. The FDA on Wednesday approved the tariff-free imports from Belize after the whiteleg shrimp passed the Systematic Inspection of Imported Food, which would continue to boost mutual trade, the ministry said. Taiwan’s annual consumption of whiteleg shrimps stands at 30,000 tonnes, far exceeding domestic production, the ministry said. Taiwan used to fill the gap by importing shrimps from Honduras, but purchases slumped after Tegucigalpa severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan