Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

As the footsteps of 2018 recede and the bell welcoming 2019 starts to ring, we bid farewell to the year past and welcome a promising New Year. On this occasion, on behalf of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS), I would like to extend my seasonal greetings and best wishes to all the fellow acupuncture-moxibustion professionals all over the world, to the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), China’s National Health Commission, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, and China Association for Science and Technology who have been supporting the development of WFAS, to the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and to all our friends from all walks of life who care about WFAS! I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks and sincere congratulations to all our member societies, the Executive Committee, and to all the staff of the Secretariat! I wish you a happy new year!

As an international organization, WFAS shoulder heavy responsibilities in spreading and carrying forward the precious heritage of TCM acupuncture-moxibustion. Under the coordination and guidance of WHO and the health administrative agencies at all levels, all the staff of WFAS, being creative and pioneering, forged ahead in accomplishing all work as planned with remarkable achievements.

In 2018, for celebrating the eighth anniversary of inscription of “acupuncture and moxibustion of TCM” into the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, WFAS held World Acupuncture Day in UNESCO and 2018 International Symposium on Acupuncture-Moxibustion in Paris, France, attracting 1,500 participants from more than 40 countries. Work Together to Create a Community for Human Health – 2018 Paris Declaration was solemnly released, in which WFAS called on all member societies and fellow professionals to spread, advance and use acupuncture-moxibustion of TCM. These activities not only marked a new starting point and an important milestone in the progress of WFAS leading global advancement of TCM acupuncture-moxibustion, but became a most comprehensive, abundant and innovative demonstration of TCM acupuncture-moxibustion on one of the world’s most influential platforms. 

In 2018, WFAS held a series of the Belt and Road Tour of TCM Acupuncture-Moxibustion in Greece, Turkey, Argentina, Uruguay and the United Kingdom with a number of “first times” – visiting South America for the first time, entering Cambridge University which among word’s top universities for the first time, and focusing on TCM industry and its benefits for youth development for the first time. 

The International Patient Registry Platform of Acupuncture-Moxibustion initiated by WFAS has recruited 1,320 patients and 216 doctors. WFAS has also been actively involved in the work of WHO and ISO by providing technical support to a number of programs, including the Quality Assurance and Improvement of Acupuncture Service, WHO Benchmarks for Practice in Acupuncture and Cupping, etc. In addition, World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion sponsored by WFAS started all-round cooperation with Elsevier Group, taking a solid step towards higher international recognition.

The year 2018 is full of unforgettable and encouraging memories, and the upcoming year 2019 brings us infinite expectation. In the new year, WFAS will continue to organize brand activities including the International Symposium on Acupuncture-Moxibustion and the Belt and Road Tour of TCM Acupuncture-Moxibustion, aiming to build TCM acupuncture-moxibustion into a shining visiting card for people-to-people connectivity among all countries; WFAS will continue to be committed to promoting recognition, use, legislation, and high-quality education of acupuncture-moxibustion in the world, developing acupuncture-moxibustion standards, and enhancing the role of acupuncture-moxibustion in global health care, so that TCM acupuncture-moxibustion will better serve the people all over the world.

There’s an ancient Chinese saying “the more you do, the more you know; the deeper you know, the better you can do”. Looking ahead the year 2019, we will still strive for progress, truth and innovation, bringing up new hope in the new year. Let’s join hands to embark on a new journey, raise high the sail of hope, be strong and be together, and create an ever better future for acupuncture-moxibustion in the world!

Finally, I wish you good health, successful work, happy family and all the very best in the new year!

Liu Baoyan

President of World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies

December 29, 2018