Director-General's remarks at the Opening of the interactive Exhibition on the Art and Tradition of Chinese Medicine

Opening of the interactive Exhibition on the Art and Tradition of Chinese Medicine
to commemorate Chinese Double Ninth Festival

Wednesday, 29 October 2025, at 12.30 p.m.
Hall XIV, Palais des Nations

Ambassador Chen,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the opening of this interactive exhibition on the Art and Tradition of Chinese Medicine. Let me begin by thanking the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for bringing this remarkable display of cultural and medical heritage to the Palais des Nations.  

This exhibition is an important contribution to the Cultural Activities Programme of UNOG. In line with General Assembly resolutions on the Dialogue among Civilizations, its programme provides Member States with a platform for cultural diplomacy, offering a space to share art, culture, and traditional knowledge at the Palais des Nations.

Today’s event coincides with the Double Ninth Festival, a celebration in Chinese tradition dedicated to longevity, health, and respect for elders. These values are also at the heart of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which sees health as the result of harmony - between body and mind, between humanity and the natural world, and between tradition and innovation.

This exhibition beautifully illustrates that Traditional Chinese Medicine is not only a medical system but also a profound cultural tradition - one that embodies millennia of observation, reflection, and understanding of the human condition. It speaks to universal principles that resonate across civilizations: respect for life, intergenerational solidarity, and the pursuit of balance and harmony.

These principles align closely with the United Nations’ vision of sustainable development, as enshrined in the 2030 Agenda, and in particular SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being for all. Just as Traditional Chinese Medicine promotes balance within the body, our collective mission at the United Nations is to restore balance to our planet — between people and ecosystems, progress and preservation, growth and equity.

The World Health Organization acknowledges traditional and complementary medicine as a vital pillar of global health. By combining ancestral knowledge with modern science, we foster inclusive, people-centred health systems that honour the diversity and richness of human experience.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Cultural exchanges such as this one are essential for multilateralism. They deepen mutual understanding and respect among nations. They remind us that culture is not an accessory to diplomacy — it is one of its most powerful instruments.

Let us take this opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage of Chinese civilization and reaffirm our shared commitment to cooperation, dialogue, and collective well-being. In the face of complex, interconnected challenges, it is through such cultural exchanges that we build bridges of understanding and deepen the bonds of our common humanity.

Thank you.