Academician Liu Liang, Chief Scientist of Zhengqing Group, attended the 4th National Poria Conference 2025 and the International Conference on the Application of ISO Standards for Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The 4th National Poria Conference

On the morning of October 17, the 4th National Poria Conference 2025 and the International Conference on the Application of ISO Standards for Traditional Chinese Medicine officially opened in Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County. Experts and scholars from across China's TCM field, along with industry leaders and outstanding entrepreneurs, gathered in Jingzhou to engage in in-depth discussions centered on the comprehensive development of the TCM industry chain, as well as the application and promotion of international ISO standards for TCM.

Liu Liang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, lifetime professor at Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, director of the National Key Laboratory for TCM Syndrome Research, and director of the Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of TCM; Sang Zhen, chairperson of ISO/TC249/SC1, chief physician at Shuguang Hospital affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and doctoral supervisor; Guo Liangdong, president of the China Mycological Society and researcher at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xiu Laigui, chairman of Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.; Ma Wensheng, member of the Party Leadership Group and vice chairman of the Hunan Provincial Association for Science and Technology; and He Zunqing, deputy secretary of the Huaihua Municipal Party Committee and secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Committee—along with other city leaders—attended the conference. Huang Yigang, Secretary of the Jingzhou County Party Committee, delivered a welcome speech. Leaders and guests from relevant organizations, renowned scholars and experts, Wu Feichi, Chairman of Zhengqing Group, Long Xianjun, rotating president, and representatives from various enterprises and associations also joined the event.

At the opening ceremony of the conference, Academician Liu Liang, Chief Scientist of Zhengqing Group, delivered a keynote speech titled "Cutting-Edge Technologies and the Development of High-end Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations," using Zhengqing Fengtongning as an example to deeply explore the pathways and value of innovative development in TCM.

Academician Liu Liang explained that the development of Zhengqing Fengtongning originated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Qingfeng Teng. Berberine, a key component of Qingfeng Teng, boasts a unique chemical structure that closely resembles morphine yet exhibits remarkable anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects—without any addictive properties—thus laying a solid foundation for innovative drug development. Building on this breakthrough, Zhengqing Fengtongning is now expanding its therapeutic applications to include postherpetic neuralgia, osteoarthritis, cancer, and other conditions.

During his speech, Academician Liu Liang highlighted the empowering role of cutting-edge technologies in the development of new traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) drugs. Leveraging the Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of TCM, he introduced the industry's first "Four-Integration Platform" for TCM drug innovation—integrating intelligence, automation, digitalization, and engineering. This platform features 14 dedicated "task workstations," enabling a seamless, "one-stop" solution for the entire process, from TCM ingredient extraction and structural characterization to bioactivity assays. By harnessing advanced digital management systems and AI algorithms, the platform can instantly collect and trace both chemical and biological data related to TCM, significantly boosting R&D efficiency while reducing costs—and ultimately providing crucial support for the creation of innovative TCM medicines.

Additionally, Academician Liu Liang emphasized that traditional Chinese medicine is a vital source of innovative drugs. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as AI with industrial innovation, we can further strengthen the core competitiveness of TCM in both science and industry, enabling it to better address global development trends.

2025 Traditional Chinese Medicine ISO International Standard

Applied Conference Academic Exchange Meeting

At the opening of the meeting, Academician Liu Liang emphasized in his speech the critical supporting role of ISO international standards for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in advancing its development, noting that ISO standards serve as the core link driving the internationalization and standardization of TCM. By leveraging ISO standards to promote the standardization and regularization of TCM industries such as Poria cocos, we can further unlock the sector's full potential and effectively propel the high-quality growth of TCM’s broader health industry.

At the conclusion of his speech, he issued a call to action: "Establish standards, adopt standards, and promote standards—leveraging ISO international standards to bring more traditional Chinese medicine products to the global stage," fully demonstrating Zhengqing Group's passionate commitment and unwavering determination to advance TCM onto the world stage.

Xie Ying, Head of the Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Technical Empowerment & Supply Center for High-Quality Chinese Medicinal Product Industrial Chain, as well as a professor at the Guangdong Academy of Chinese Medicine and the State Key Laboratory of TCM-based Dampness Syndrome Research, delivered a report titled "Developing ISO International Quality Standards for Chinese Medicines Based on Efficacy-Driven Substance Research."

Professor Xiong Yin from the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Wenzhou Medical University elaborates in detail on the formulation and revision of ISO international standards for Chinese medicinal herbs, using Gastrodia elata (Tianma) as an example.

Yan Jie, a professor at the School of Pharmacy of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and director of the Teaching and Research Section for TCM Identification, leveraged the development of ISO international standards for Sichuan-produced authentic medicinal materials to discuss the foundational pillars supporting the industry's rise and the new opportunities for local development.

Kuang Pengqun, professor at the School of Pharmacy of Linyi University, director of the Yimengshan Forsythia Research Center, and deputy director of the Shandong Chinese Medicinal Materials Technical Standards Innovation Base, reported on the work related to the revision of the ISO international standard.

Enterprise representative Xu Youming – "Danxi Heritage and Yin-Nourishing Wellness: An Overview and Insights into the Development of Sanxitang Huangjing Project"

Enterprise representative Lü Linfeng — "Why Build, How to Build, and What’s the Purpose?: A Triple-Dimensional Analysis of International Standard Setting for Traditional Chinese Medicine"

Enterprise Representative Liu Peng – "Tianshi Li's Practice in Standardization Research"

The successful holding of the academic exchange meeting at this International Conference on the Application of ISO Standards for Traditional Chinese Medicine not only facilitated a deep consensus among experts, scholars, and representatives from government and industry on standard implementation, but also fostered a collective momentum to advance the standardized and internationalized development of TCM. From Academician Liu Liang’s emphasis on how standards can unlock the full potential of the traditional TCM industry, to Professor Zhou Hua’s discussion of practical achievements in standardization, and Chairman Wu Feichi’s insights into enterprises’ exploration of end-to-end industrial chains, diverse perspectives converged with hands-on experiences, providing a clear roadmap for the effective implementation of TCM standardization—first in Huaihua and beyond, and eventually across the nation. Looking ahead, as ISO standards for TCM continue to permeate every stage of the industry, from cultivation and R&D to distribution and trade, coupled with the ongoing advancement of strategic initiatives like the "Southern China Herbal Medicine Valley," TCM will further break through international barriers, showcasing its enhanced value in the global health arena and injecting sustained momentum into the high-quality growth of China’s vast TCM-related industries.