Introduction: In September 2026, the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) organized a delegation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts to Spain and the Netherlands for a series of academic activities on the co-construction of legal frameworks and educational development in acupuncture and traditional medicine. From academic symposiums and research discussions to thematic lectures, Free TCM Clinics, and intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, the delegation engaged extensively with European counterparts on the development of legal frameworks, educational cooperation, clinical research, and cultural communication in acupuncture and traditional medicine.

WFAS has launched the special series “2026 TCM Acupuncture Spotlight · Europe”, following the delegation’s journey across Europe to document key outcomes and highlights of the activities and showcase the dynamic practice of international exchange and cooperation in TCM and acupuncture-moxibustion.

On September 16, the China–Europe Symposium on Co-construction of Legal Frameworks and Educational Development in Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine opened in Barcelona, Spain. The Symposium was organized by the European Foundation of Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (FEMTCI), co-organized by WFAS, and supported by the China Association of Chinese Medicine (CACM). More than 40 experts and scholars from China and Spain in the fields of traditional medicine, higher education, policy and regulation, and clinical medicine gathered for in-depth exchanges on the international development of TCM, university cooperation, regulatory policies, evidence-based clinical research, and other topics, building an academic bridge for mutual learning between China and Europe in the field of traditional medicine.

Prof. Yang Jinsheng, Secretary-General of WFAS, delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. He noted that the internationalization of TCM involves not only the sharing of medical techniques, but also dialogue between civilizations. China and Europe should make academic diplomacy an important vehicle for cooperation, draw on the platforms provided by universities and professional societies, and advance joint educational initiatives and mutual learning on standards, so that acupuncture and other forms of traditional medicine can better contribute to health worldwide.

Dr Ramón María Calduch, Vice President of WFAS and President of FEMTCI, stated in his remarks that tradition provides a rich foundation of knowledge, science enables objective evaluation, education ensures its transmission across generations, and regulation safeguards quality and safety. He expressed the hope that the Symposium would mark a positive beginning toward developing the “Barcelona Principles for the Regulation and Educational Development of Acupuncture and TCM in Europe.”

Ma Jun, Deputy Secretary-General of CACM, noted in her remarks that Europe has well-established higher education and regulatory systems. China–Europe cooperation should preserve the authentic characteristics of TCM while adapting to local contexts, strike an appropriate balance among scientific rigor, market adaptability, and cultural identity, and explore sustainable models of cooperation.

The Symposium featured six thematic academic presentations, systematically presenting research findings and practical experience from China and Europe in evidence-based clinical practice, regulatory access, educational cooperation, technological innovation, and related fields.

Yang Jinsheng, Secretary-General of WFAS, delivered on behalf of President Liu Baoyan a presentation entitled “Advancing the Integration of Acupuncture into Modern Medicine Internationally through High-Quality Evidence: Progress in Clinical Practice Guidelines.” The presentation reviewed major developments in global clinical acupuncture research over the past decade and progress in the incorporation of acupuncture into international clinical practice guidelines. It noted that findings from a number of high-quality randomized controlled trials conducted in China have been cited by authoritative European and international guidelines, providing clear evidence-based support for acupuncture in areas including chronic pain, pelvic floor disorders, and digestive diseases.

The presentation emphasized that robust evidence provides a core foundation for the legal and regulatory development of acupuncture, and that high-quality clinical research can offer strong support for acupuncture legislation and practitioner access in Europe. With regard to the development of legal and regulatory frameworks for acupuncture in Spain and Europe, Yang proposed a three-step approach. The first step would be to draw on the experience of Australia and New Zealand by establishing a system of professional self-regulation and seeking delegated authority over certain functions such as practitioner access and professional regulation. The second would be to refer to the experience of the United States and Canada and promote legislative initiatives at the regional level, gradually securing legal recognition for acupuncture practice. The third would be to draw on the experience of Singapore and Thailand, with the longer-term goal of establishing a legal status for traditional medicine comparable to that of modern medicine and integrating it into the formal healthcare system.

Dr Carlos Llopis, Secretary-General of FEMTCI, delivered a presentation entitled “Requirements for Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine to Access the European Market.” He noted that Chinese herbal medicine and Western herbal medicine share certain underlying principles while being rooted in different theoretical systems. Spain’s natural medicine market is growing rapidly and offers considerable potential, yet the entry of Chinese herbal medicine continues to face challenges including an underdeveloped regulatory framework, the need for greater harmonization of quality standards, and an insufficient pool of qualified professionals. He emphasized that the development of Chinese herbal medicine in Europe must maintain rigorous standards of quality and safety while taking into account both traditional theory and modern scientific evaluation, bringing both opportunities and responsibilities.

Chief Physician Wang Yingying of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences delivered a presentation entitled “Interpretation of the Clinical Practice Guideline on Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Smoking Cessation.” She provided an in-depth interpretation of the world’s first international guideline on acupuncture and moxibustion for smoking cessation released by WFAS. The guideline follows the principle of giving priority to evidence, supplemented by expert consensus and informed by clinical experience, with recommendations developed on the basis of 56 clinical studies involving 6,773 participants. The presentation noted that filiform-needle acupuncture and auricular therapy are both strongly recommended interventions for smoking cessation and can effectively alleviate withdrawal symptoms and improve cessation rates. These interventions should also be combined with brief interventions, the 5A approach to smoking cessation counseling, and long-term follow-up management, providing a new non-pharmacological approach to tobacco control worldwide

Prof. Xinyue Calduch of FEMTCI delivered a presentation entitled “Building Academic Bridges: Education, Exchange and Cooperation between China and Europe.” She noted that building an academic bridge between China and Europe involves two-way understanding and learning rather than the one-way transfer of knowledge. Educational programs should enable Chinese participants to gain an immersive understanding of European regulatory requirements and clinical practice, while helping European practitioners understand the cultural foundations of TCM, thereby fostering meaningful connections and mutual understanding.

Chief Physician Chen Luquan of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, delivered a presentation entitled “External Acupuncture Therapy for Allergic Rhinitis.” He introduced the hospital’s distinctive technique of acupuncture stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion (Xinwu acupoint). By regulating the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity through stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion, the technique is used for conditions including moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinitis and can rapidly improve major symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and rhinorrhea. The technique has demonstrated a favorable safety profile, and multicenter clinical studies have shown better therapeutic outcomes than conventional acupuncture protocols. The team has continued to advance research on standardized operating procedures and technical standards, supporting the international dissemination of this distinctive Chinese acupuncture technique and providing a new non-pharmacological treatment option for patients with rhinitis worldwide.

Dr Ramón María Calduch, President of FEMTCI and Vice President of WFAS, delivered a presentation entitled “Cooperation between Chinese Medicine Universities and EU Universities in the Internationalization of Chinese Medicine.” He noted that universities are key platforms for intellectual exchange between civilizations and play an important role in validating knowledge and establishing its scientific and social legitimacy. He proposed strengthening cooperation between Chinese and European universities in four areas: joint degree programs, collaborative research, international academic publishing, and clinical training. He also stressed the importance of avoiding the use of a single biomedical framework to dilute the distinctive epistemological system of Chinese medicine and of safeguarding the cultural identity of TCM throughout the process of internationalization.

During the discussion session, participating experts exchanged views on the progress of acupuncture legislation, research methodologies, standards development, enhancement of clinical skills, technological innovation and local adaptation, and international educational cooperation.

The Symposium provided a platform for in-depth China–Europe exchange in the field of TCM. Experts explored the joint development of acupuncture education and legal frameworks from different perspectives, offering new approaches to cooperation between China and Spain in the field of TCM. Experts from both countries will continue to draw on the platforms provided by universities and professional societies to advance the transmission of intangible cultural heritage, joint educational initiatives, collaborative research, and clinical skills training, using medicine as a bridge to deepen understanding and trust between Chinese and European civilizations.