Clinical Experience Sharing on Fighting Against COVID-19 between Experts from BUCM and Canada

　　On May 9, 2020, a symposium on Chinese medicine fighting against COVID-19 was jointly hosted by Canada-China Science Association and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in hopes to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in combating COVID-19. Medical professionals from China and Canada exchanged their views via video conference on utilization experience and significant efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Wen Jun, Science and Technology Counsellor of Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Vancouver, Li Zhigang, Chairman of Canada-China Society of Science & Technology Industries (CCSSTI), Xu Anlong, President of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine(BUCM), Ye Yongan, Party Secretary of Dongzhimen Hospital, and more than 50 participants included experts from University of Toronto, Queensland University of Technology, and the University of Montreal as well as staff in related field attended the symposium.

　　Li Zhigang, the Chairman of the Canada-China Society of Science & Technology Industries (CCSSTI) first introduced the status about corona virus in Canada, in hopes to stimulate the cooperation between scientific research institutions of China and Canada in the fight against COVID-19, exchange information and share experience through this symposium. Counselor Wen Jun expressed congratulations on the opening of the symposium in his speech and hoped to promote the development of TCM overseas by strengthening cooperation with China. Prof. Xu Anlong, President of BUCM noted that BUCM had always been committed to interpreting Chinese medicine by using rigorous and scientific language. TCM had yielded satisfactory results in battling with the epidemic, becoming an important part of China's anti-covid-19 approach. In addition, TCM had made distinctive contributions to the prevention and control of epidemic. The symposium aimed to build mutual promotion and complementary advantages as well as strengthen international anti-covid-19 cooperation.

　　Since then, Professor Ye Yongan, the leader of the national TCM medical treatment team aided by BUCM to Hubei, shared in greater depth and details the experience of TCM for treatment of severe and critically ill patients infected with COVID-19. Yu Weidong, member of the TCM and Acupuncture Board of British Columbia, Canada, introduced the development and challenges of TCM in Canada. Dr. Ma Yuanchun from Canada introduced the internationalization and modernization of TCM. Prof. Wu Binjiang, Dean of Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, introduced the clinical treatment of TCM in Ontario, Canada. On behalf of overseas Chinese scholars in Canada, Prof. Liu Junli from Quebec Association of Chinese Professors analyzed and discussed COVID-19 cases in Quebec, Canada.

　　At last, experts from both sides conducted a panel discussion and exchanged views on the role of TCM in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. This symposium was highly evaluated and unanimously approved by participants from both sides. The participating experts all expressed their hopes to take this symposium as a platform to enhance further collaboration and exchanges between China and Canada in the field of health care and contribute to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.