Ashgabat, April 16, 2026 – The Europe Today: A delegation from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, led by Rector Tan Zhishu, visited Turkmenistan as part of an official trip aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in healthcare and traditional medicine.
During the visit, the delegation toured the headquarters of the Charity Fund for Providing Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Arkadag, where they held talks with the Fund’s Vice President for Medical Activities, Oguljahan Atabayeva.
Welcoming the delegation, Atabayeva congratulated Rector Tan Zhishu on being awarded the title of Honorary Professor and on the establishment of the “Office of Traditional Medicine” at the Myrat Garryyev State Medical University of Turkmenistan. She underscored the importance of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities to establish a Turkmen-Chinese Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, describing it as a milestone reflecting the advancement of bilateral relations to a new level.
Tan Zhishu, in his remarks, praised the extensive charitable work carried out by the Fund and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to discuss avenues for enhanced cooperation. He highlighted the growing global presence of traditional medicine centers affiliated with the university in countries including Australia, Russia, the United States, and Germany, noting that Turkmenistan’s inclusion demonstrates its commitment to advancing public health and adopting effective treatment practices.
Atabayeva also recalled her recent visit to China at the invitation of Li Bin, Chairwoman of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation, where a separate Memorandum of Understanding was signed to promote cooperation in healthcare and education. She emphasized ongoing efforts to implement the provisions of the agreement and expressed interest in expanding collaboration in pediatric healthcare, including treatment and rehabilitation.
Highlighting the Fund’s achievements over the past five years, Atabayeva noted that numerous complex surgeries have been performed for children using the Fund’s resources, alongside initiatives supporting their moral, intellectual, and physical development, as well as the construction of educational and sports facilities.
The Vice President also expressed keen interest in integrating traditional Chinese medicine practices into child healthcare services, affirming readiness to review proposals from the Chinese side.
As part of the visit, the Chinese delegation toured the Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Center named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, where they were briefed on medical services and advanced equipment. They also visited the Gorogly State Equestrian Circus in Arkadag to observe hippotherapy programs used in rehabilitating children with musculoskeletal disorders.
The visit concluded with a performance by the National Equestrian Games Group “Galkynysh.” Members of the Chinese delegation expressed gratitude to the leadership of Turkmenistan for the high level of organization and the comprehensive program arranged during their stay, reaffirming their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in healthcare and traditional medicine.
