On April 3, a delegation from the Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba, led by Johann Perdomo Delgado, head of the Department of Natural and Traditional Medicine, and Taymí Martínez Naranjo, General Director of the Faustino Pérez Provincial Hospital of Matanzas, visited Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (ZCMU). The delegation held in-depth discussions with university representatives on cooperation and development pathways for traditional medicine in the context of global health. ZCMU President Chen Zhong warmly welcomed the guests. Officials from the International Relations Office and the First Affiliated Hospital also participated in the reception and attended the cooperation meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, President Chen extended a warm welcome and sincere greetings on behalf of all faculty and students of ZCMU to the Cuban delegation. He noted that while Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Cuba’s natural and traditional medicine are rooted in different cultural backgrounds, they share core concepts such as the harmony between humanity and nature and the emphasis on preventive care. These common principles provide a solid theoretical foundation for collaboration. Since 2014, the First Affiliated Hospital of ZCMU and Faustino Pérez Hospital in Matanzas Province have engaged in multiple TCM exchange activities, deepening academic dialogue and building a bridge for the integrated development of traditional medicine. President Chen expressed his hope that, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and global health cooperation, China and Cuba will further advance collaboration in traditional medicine—contributing Chinese wisdom and joint efforts to the shared goal of improving global health and building a community of common health for mankind.

Mr. Johann Perdomo Delgado previously spent ten months at ZCMU in 2011 as a visiting scholar. In his speech, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to the university and spoke highly of its educational philosophy. He also reflected on the long-standing and in-depth collaboration between ZCMU’s First Affiliated Hospital and Faustino Pérez Hospital in Matanzas Province. He emphasized that TCM, with its cost-effectiveness and proven efficacy, has become an important means of addressing healthcare needs in Cuba. He expressed hope that, moving forward, both sides will continue to use traditional medicine as a bridge—integrating more TCM elements into the healthcare system of Matanzas Province and its hospitals. Together, they can write a new chapter where traditional medicine and modern science complement each other, benefiting the people of both countries.

Wang Ying, Director of the International Relations Office, gave an overview of ZCMU, highlighting its historical evolution, internationalization efforts, and future vision for collaboration. Director Taymí Martínez Naranjo noted that their hospital is the largest and most influential general hospital in the region. Among its key programs, traditional medicine is one of nine recognized as national-level excellence projects. She expressed her hope to establish diverse collaborations with ZCMU and its First Affiliated Hospital in areas such as TCM education, clinical practice, and scientific research, further strengthening the ties between the two countries, provinces, hospitals, and institutions. In conclusion, President Chen Zhong emphasized the importance of adhering to the principle of “broad cooperation with focused approaches,” suggesting that both sides concentrate on clinical and research cooperation in TCM, jointly advancing exchange initiatives and striving for practical, fruitful outcomes.

During their visit, the delegation toured the the Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Zhejiang Chinese Medicine Museum. They were deeply impressed by the vitality sparked by the fusion of ancient TCM wisdom with modern scientific innovation.

Since 2014, the First Affiliated Hospital of ZCMU has sent multiple teams of acupuncture and tuina experts to Matanzas Province’s Faustino Pérez Hospital to host “TCM Week” events, which have been warmly received by the local community. In 2025, their joint initiative was officially approved as a “Provincial Overseas TCM Center Construction” project. This May, the two sides will hold a signing and inauguration ceremony for the “Zhejiang–Matanzas TCM Center” at Faustino Pérez Hospital.