On August 14, the WFAS 2026 International Symposium on Acupuncture-Moxibustion successfully concluded in Bad Zurzach, Switzerland. The Symposium brought together nearly 500 experts and scholars from around the world and featured 1 main venue, 10 parallel academic sessions and 5 workshops, with more than 200 academic presentations, 34 poster presentations and over 130 papers. Through a variety of formats, participants engaged in in-depth exchanges on significant advances and breakthrough achievements in acupuncture clinical practice, scientific research, education and training, international standardization, and other areas.

Sungchol Kim, Unit Head for Traditional Medicine Norms, Standards, and Systems Integration, WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre; David P.J. Hung, Honorary President for Life of WFAS; Yang Jinsheng, Secretary-General of WFAS; Li Yiming, Executive Chair of the Symposium and WFAS Executive Committee Member; Yu Xiaochun, President of the China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, a co-organizer of the Symposium; Sebastian Brändli, Vice-Rector of Swiss TCM University and former Head of the Higher Education Office of the Canton of Zurich; and more than 20 WFAS Vice Presidents were among the distinguished guests attending the closing ceremony.

Yang Jinsheng Delivers Closing Remarks

On behalf of WFAS, Yang Jinsheng expressed sincere appreciation to the organizers, co-organizers and supporting institutions, as well as WFAS member societies, experts and scholars, and acupuncture-moxibustion professionals from countries and regions around the world. He noted that the Symposium featured in-depth exchanges on acupuncture clinical practice, advances in scientific research, the development of educational standards and pathways for integration and innovation, as well as acupuncture for anti-aging and aesthetic medicine. The discussions encompassed both the preservation and advancement of classical theories and distinctive techniques and explorations in frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, brain science and digital technologies, presenting a new landscape of inheritance, innovation and openness in acupuncture-moxibustion worldwide. He emphasized that the acupuncture-moxibustion community should continue to embrace openness, cooperation, integration and innovation, expand the international development of acupuncture medicine, and inject new vitality into its development in the contemporary era.

Yu Xiaochun introduced preparations for the Eleventh General Assembly of WFAS, the 2027 World Conference on Acupuncture-Moxibustion, and a series of activities marking the 40th anniversary of WFAS, which will be organized by the China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion. He noted that, as one of the organizations that initiated the establishment of WFAS, a founding member and its largest member society, the China Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion has extensive experience in organizing major events and strong academic resources. It has both the responsibility and the confidence to make next year’s gathering a major international academic event in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture-moxibustion of significant scale, high academic caliber and broad influence. He warmly invited experts and scholars from around the world to gather in Beijing in 2027 and jointly contribute to the international development of acupuncture-moxibustion.

Yu Xiaochun Introduces the 2027 World Conference on Acupuncture-Moxibustion and WFAS 40th Anniversary Activities

In the presence of distinguished guests and participants, Li Yiming formally handed over the WFAS flag to Yu Xiaochun, symbolizing the continuity of the academic spirit of acupuncture-moxibustion and the continued advancement of WFAS. The handover also marked the official launch of preparations for the Eleventh General Assembly of WFAS and the 2027 World Conference on Acupuncture-Moxibustion.

WFAS Flag Handover Ceremony

Although the Symposium has concluded, global exchange and collaboration in acupuncture-moxibustion will continue. As an international organization headquartered in Beijing, China, WFAS will continue to bring together the expertise and shared commitment of acupuncture-moxibustion professionals worldwide, expand pathways for the innovative development and international dissemination of acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine, and inject new momentum into the preservation, innovation and development of the discipline. The Symposium has also laid a solid foundation for preparations for the 2027 World Conference on Acupuncture-Moxibustion and related activities. Looking ahead, WFAS will continue to provide platforms for international exchange and work with acupuncture-moxibustion professionals worldwide to advance the global development of traditional medicine. The WFAS 2026 International Symposium on Acupuncture-Moxibustion has concluded successfully. We look forward to meeting again in Beijing in 2027.

The closing ceremony was co-hosted by Yang Yuyang, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WFAS, and Hu Weiguo, Professor at Swiss TCM University

Group Photo at the Closing Ceremony (Partial)