The 8th World Congress of Chinese Medicine (WCCM) was held in Central Hall Westminster in central London on 2nd -3rd September 2011. the WCCM was organised by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) and hosted by the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine UK.
At the Opening Ceremony, Prof. She Jing, the chairman of WFCMS, and Prof Luo Ding Hui, the honorary president of ATCM gave their warm welcome speeches, which were followed by Lord Cotter and David Tredinnick MP from UK parliament, Dr Zhang Qi from World Health Organisation and Mr Li Hui the counsellor of Chinese Embassy in London. Prof Hong Jing, vice director of PR and Education Department in China State Administration of TCM, read the congratulation letter to the WCCM from Prof Wang Guo Qiang, the director of China State Administration of TCM. Mr Richard Woodfield from UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency also addressed the audiences at the Opening Ceremony.
Following the Opening Ceremony, 5 professors gave their key-note lectures in the great hall. Prof Denis Noble from Oxford University introduced the key principles of systems biology and its relationship with TCM, Dr Tai-Ping Fan from Cambridge University gave a lecture on new pharmacology inspired by TCM, three scholars from China talked about new development in China on studies of acupuncture points and meridians, TCM in treating dermatitis, and TCM in treating hyperlipidemia and related conditions.
There were 860 delegates from 35 countries who attended the WCCM. The congress received 369 papers with 274 being selected and edited in the WCCM Proceeding, plus 33 papers from Paediatric Special Committee sessions. 112 papers were presented at the WCCM, including 5 Key-note Lectures, 26 at plenary sessions and 81 at syndicate sessions. In addition, there were 31 presentations in paediatric sessions and 4 workshops. ATCM has ordered 1000 copies of WCCM proceeding CD and our office will soon send every ATCM member a CD copy.