TCM training institute inaugurated in Malta

Representatives from China and Malta sign a cooperation agreement during the opening ceremony of the Jiangsu Medical College Zheng He Institute in Paola, Malta, on Dec. 16, 2024. A collaborative education institute dedicated to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) skills training was inaugurated on Monday in Paola, marking a significant milestone in TCM cooperation between China and Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

VALLETTA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- A collaborative education institute dedicated to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) skills training was inaugurated on Monday in Paola, marking a significant milestone in TCM cooperation between China and Malta.

Named Jiangsu Medical College Zheng He Institute, the new institute is a joint effort between the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST) and the Jiangsu Vocational College of Medicine (JSMC) in eastern China. Located on the MCAST campus, the institute represents an upgrade and renaming of the Zheng He TCM Education Center, which first opened in November last year.

During the opening ceremony, two cooperation agreements were signed. One established an MCAST Center on the JSMC campus in China, while the other is a tripartite partnership between MCAST, JSMC, and the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) to further develop the Zheng He Institute.

Stephen Vella, principal and chief executive officer of MCAST, highlighted the institute's significance, saying that it will "enrich MCAST's curriculum and broaden the academic experience for everyone involved."

JSMC President Yin Zhongyong called these agreements "important initiative" in deepening the TCM cooperation and exchange between China and Malta. He noted that China has signed agreements on TCM cooperation with more than 40 countries, regional authorities, and international organizations.

Clarence Pace, chairman of the MRCTCM Board, described the initiative as "a powerful catalyst" for boosting TCM awareness and knowledge in Malta. "This partnership promises to contribute to the future enhancement of medical care for the Maltese people, blending the rich heritage of TCM with contemporary healthcare practices," he added.

Wu Yan, vice minister of China's Education Ministry, noted that TCM training will "open a new window" for the Maltese people to better understand China and "build a new bridge" to strengthen spiritual connections and friendship between the two nations.

Representatives from China and Malta shake hands after signing a cooperation agreement during the opening ceremony of the Jiangsu Medical College Zheng He Institute in Paola, Malta, on Dec. 16, 2024. A collaborative education institute dedicated to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) skills training was inaugurated on Monday in Paola, marking a significant milestone in TCM cooperation between China and Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)