Hangzhou declaration sets out a global vision for artificial intelligence in traditional Chinese medicine

On June 27, 2026, the First World Congress on Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Chinese Medicine was held in Hangzhou, China. Organized by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) under the theme “Embracing the AI Era: Intelligent Innovation for the Future of TCM,” the congress explored opportunities and pathways for integrating AI into TCM. Nearly 800 experts in TCM from 28 countries and regions, including China, Australia, Belgium, France, Japan, Sweden, New Zealand, Hungary, Italy and the United Kingdom, attended the event.

The Hangzhou Declaration on the Global Development of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Chinese Medicine (hereafter, the Declaration), adopted at the congress, has now been published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine (JIM). As a key outcome of the inaugural congress, the Declaration represents an international consensus document specifically addressing the integration of AI and TCM. It sets out fundamental principles, priority areas, and proposals for international cooperation, marking an important step toward a more coordinated approach to the intelligent development of TCM worldwide.

Addressing Opportunities and Challenges in AI-Enabled TCM

The Declaration recognizes that AI is transforming TCM through applications such as classical literature analysis, the preservation of clinical expertise, diagnosis and treatment, drug discovery, and health management. At the same time, this integration faces significant challenges, including inconsistent data standards, limited algorithmic explainability, gaps in ethical governance and insufficient international coordination.

To address these challenges, the Declaration proposes a comprehensive framework for the development of AI in TCM. It emphasizes technological innovation grounded in the core theories of TCM, application development guided by clinical needs and the establishment of high-quality data standards and sharing mechanisms. It also calls for scientific evaluation systems suited to the characteristics of TCM, stronger ethical governance and risk management, interdisciplinary collaboration, and greater participation in international standard-setting and global cooperation.

Supporting the Responsible Global Development of TCM

The publication of the Declaration marks an important step toward the systematic, standardized and internationally coordinated development of AI-enabled TCM. By articulating shared principles and priorities, it provides a reference framework for advancing the modernization and international dissemination of TCM while offering insights for the broader integration of AI and traditional medicine worldwide.

As JIM publishing the English version of the Declaration, we remain committed to promoting international academic exchange in integrative medicine and interdisciplinary research. This publication further reflects JIM's role in facilitating dialogue on emerging fields at the intersection of TCM and AI, providing an international platform for research, discussion and collaboration.