On 5 August SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov met with Chair of the Beijing Research Association for Social Development and Environmental Protection Zou Mingchun and representatives of Chinese company Yiling Pharmaceutical, at the SCO Secretariat.
Vladimir Norov thanked the association and the company for the supply of 500,000 units of medicine (Lianhua Qingwen) to the SCO member states to help combat the pandemic within the SCO space.
The Secretary-General noted the success of a number of significant events, such as the Meeting of Health Ministers of the SCO Member States and the SCO's Forum on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Referring to the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine, specifically in the treatment of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, he pointed out the need for developing interaction between the SCO institutions and companies concerned, working in that sphere.
There was an exchange of opinions on the possibility of launching an SCO forum in health protection. "Such a forum, proposed by the Chair of the Beijing Research Association, could become a platform for sharing experience in the promotion of public health, the establishment of joint medical centres in SCO countries using cutting-edge technologies and the achievements of western and oriental medicine, providing personnel training, encouraging cooperation between universities and partnership between enterprises engaged in cultivating medicinal plants and manufacturing herbal products," added Norov.
In his turn, Zou Mingchun expressed the intention to give further assistance to the SCO member states in their fight against the coronavirus.
He also expressed interest in the joint organisation of a number of events to mark the 20th anniversary of the SCO, including in environmental protection and agriculture.
Stressing that environmental security and public health are interdependent and require the development of cooperation in those areas, Zou Mingchun said that he contemplated visiting Central Asian countries together with Chinese specialists and representatives of major companies specialising in environmental issues and combating desertification.
Yiling Pharmaceutical, a hi-tech national Chinese enterprise, was established in 1992. Its employees have developed more than 10 patented medicines and the company has won six national prizes in science and technology. Yiling Pharmaceutical operates in areas such as modern Chinese medicine, and the chemical-pharmaceutical and medical industries. It is among China's top 20 pharmaceutical companies and one of China's top 500 listed companies.
In April 1010, Lianhua Qingwen medicine produced by Yiling Pharmaceutical was officially approved by the National Medical Products Administration for registration as a new supplement to treat mild and medium forms of the coronavirus. Lianhua Qingwen capsules were the most recommended patented Chinese medicine for the treatment of COVID-19 during the pandemic in China.
To date, Lianhua Qingwen capsules are registered in Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Canada, Mozambique, Romania and other countries.
The shipment of medicine received from Yiling Pharmaceutical was distributed among the embassies of SCO member countries in China.