On 4 November, an exchange symposium on education, scientific research and industry cooperation, together with an agreement-signing ceremony, was held in Beijing. Jointly organized by the Tasmanian Government and the Australia Institute of Future Education (AIFE), the event brought together representatives from Tasmania and Chinese universities. Sun Xiulan, Vice-President of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (NJUCM), attended on behalf of the university.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff led a state government delegation to the meeting. The Premier, along with the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, representatives from the state's investment agency, and the trade division of the Department of State Growth, and the Tasmanian government's representative in China, participated in the entire exchange.
Vice-President Sun Xiulan delivers an address
In her address, Sun Xiulan welcomed the delegation and thanked the Tasmanian Government for its longstanding support for NJUCM's cooperation with Australian partners in education, research and industry.
She noted that, with the support of the Tasmanian Government, NJUCM, the University of Tasmania and AEMG Group have worked together for more than a decade through their jointly established Chinese Medicine Resources Research Centre. This collaboration has delivered substantial progress in joint talent development, collaborative research, and the introduction and cultivation of high-quality Chinese medicinal plants, laying a solid foundation for a lasting partnership.
Looking ahead, the planned Tasmanian Institute for Chinese Medicine Industry Research will support cooperation across the entire value chain. Key areas will include the introduction and cultivation of Chinese medicinal plants overseas, research and development of core technologies, the development of international standards, large-scale propagation of selected medicinal plant varieties, and international market promotion. These efforts aim to bring the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to people in both countries.
With Premier Rockliff and the Tasmanian Government delegation in attendance, Sun Xiulan signed a framework agreement with AIFE on behalf of NJUCM to jointly establish the Tasmanian Institute for Chinese Medicine Industry Research.
Signing Ceremony
The signing forms an important part of the Tasmanian Government's efforts to advance cooperation with China in education, research and industry. Building on this bilateral cooperation platform, NJUCM will use the new institute as a springboard to deepen practical cooperation with Tasmania in TCM and support the sustained development of China–Australia partnerships.
Professor Wu Qinan of the School of Pharmacy and Zhang Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, also attended the event.