From 1^st to 4^th May 2025, Lancaster University Confucius Institute hosted the International Forum on the Education Globalisation and Intercultural Communication of Traditional Chinese Medicine, attracting leading experts and scholars from the UK and China to discuss the international future of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its integration into global health and education systems.

The four-day forum served as an academic platform focused on TCM education innovation, terminology translation, and the dialogue between Eastern and Western medical systems.

During the event, Beijing Language and Culture University Press presented multiple sets of international Chinese language teaching materials and an English-language TCM textbook to Lancaster University Confucius Institute and participating scholars. “These resources will serve as vital tools for fostering TCM’s global footprint,” stated Li Liang, Division Director of Beijing Language and Culture University Press, pledging further support for institutions promoting TCM literacy.

The Education Counsellor of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Manchester, Mr Liang Yan, emphasised the importance of international cooperation in TCM education. He expressed China’s willingness to collaborate with the UK in curriculum development, academic training, and research to cultivate globally minded TCM professionals.

Academician Zhang Boli, awarded China’s national honorary title of “People’s Hero” for his exceptional contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivered a video message highlighting traditional Chinese medicine’s enduring role in the development of Chinese civilization. He highlighted TCM not only as a tool for healthcare, but also as a profound vessel of Chinese philosophy and culture.

A diverse range of interdisciplinary perspectives followed.

Professor Wang Binhua from the University of Leeds focused on the core TCM principle of medicine and food from the same source, and its reflection in Chinese culinary culture.

Professor Charlotte Baker from Lancaster University discussed inclusive healthcare practices for people with albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa, linking medical discourse with social policy.

Associate Professor Wang Lepeng from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine explored conceptual parallels between TCM's holistic philosophy (Tian-Ren Xiang Ying) and Western astrological thought. He argued that both systems reflect a shared cosmological logic linking the human body to the rhythms of the universe.

Professor Shan Baozhi from Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine underscored the need for international public goods in TCM education in the digital era, using aromatic therapy as a case study. She stressed that digitisation offers new avenues for sharing traditional knowledge globally and enhancing public health cooperation.

Tsinghua University’s Professor Wang Jinghui introduced the concept of “empathetic translation” as a necessary bridge between fundamentally different systems of thought. She emphasised the Daoist concept of He Er Bu Tong (“harmony without uniformity”) and proposed interpretation over literal translation when conveying TCM’s culturally rooted ideas.

Dr Amily Guénier from Lancaster University presented a critical comparison of AI-powered multimodal translation tools versus human-translated TCM texts. She highlighted how cultural misinterpretations—particularly of metaphors such as yin-yang and qi—reveal the current limitations of AI in translating culturally complex medical discourse.

Professor Veronika Koller from Lancaster University addressed the broader field of healthcare discourse, noting a shift in research focus from traditional doctor-patient interactions to online and institutional communication. She presented a critical discourse analysis of UK media coverage of TCM, underscoring how cultural contexts shape public perceptions of health systems.

In a video address, Professor Peng Qinglong from Shanghai Jiao Tong University congratulated the forum and reaffirmed the importance of cross-cultural cooperation in advancing TCM’s global reach.

A key achievement of the forum was the official launch of the Network for Traditional Chinese Medicine Humanities and Health Education & Dissemination. Co-founded by Dr Amily Guénier and Professor Shan Baozhi, the network comprises ten founding members from China, the UK and Germany. The centre aims to foster a dynamic and sustainable global research community at the intersection of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), intercultural communication, and health humanities.

During panel sessions, participants explored the development of international accreditation standards for TCM education, the challenges of global recognition, and best practices for cross-cultural health communication.

Founded in 2011 in partnership with South China University of Technology, Lancaster University’s Confucius Institute has earned global recognition as a “Confucius Institute of the Year.” Its focus on language and cultural exchange continues to foster meaningful Sino-British collaboration, with this forum standing as a model for international engagement in Chinese medical humanities.