“The Chinese mainland is a place particularly worthy of studies in the development of integrated Chinese and Western medicine,” said Lo Wenshen, a medical student from Taiwan, newly arrived in Tianjin to experience traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

“As the Confucian Analects goes, when we see a man of virtue and talent, we should think of equaling him; when we see a man of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves,” Lo said.

Last week, a 2018 Chinese Culture Workshop, hosted by the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits and the Tianjin government, opened in Tianjin.

Twenty students from China Medical University of Taiwan and Chang Gung University were invited to exchange views on TCM culture and development with Tianjin medical students.

A pulse instrument impressed Lo during his internship in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM.

"I have never seen such an advanced pulse instrument in Taiwan," said Lo. “The pulse detector combines a false arm with a tablet computer to pass the pulse signal, so that we can intuitively feel the pulse sensation.”

“Taiwan and the Chinese mainland have different medical and teaching systems. Experiencing the differences in medical culture across the Taiwan Straits will help Taiwan students better understand and inherit Chinese culture," said Chen Yutai, head teacher of the Taiwan exchange group.

Chen hopes that the scope of such medical exchanges will be expanded and activities will be carried out in the future.

A number of measures were released by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and National Development and Reform Commission to promote cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation in February this year.

According to the new policies, qualified physicians from Taiwan can obtain physician qualifications in the Chinese mainland by being certified and can register to practice on the mainland.  

When visiting the Taiwan clinic in Tianjin North Gate Hospital, Lo listened carefully to the employment experience shared by Taiwan doctors.

"I want to be a doctor in the Chinese mainland after graduation," said Lo, “new policies make it simpler for us to be a doctor here.”

Lo believed that more and more Taiwan students will choose to work in the Chinese mainland.

During the 6-day workshop, students of the exchange group will take internships in Tianjin hospitals, listen to lectures delivered by Chinese mainland medical experts and visit local famous TCM hospitals and enterprises.