On the morning of November 4, 2024, Professor Ante Simonić, former Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, former Ambassador to China, Chairman of the Croatia-China Friendship Association, and a distinguished medical doctor from the University of Rijeka, delivered an academic seminar titled "Desirable Integrative Medicine" at the Lecture Hall of No. 1 Library, Jiangmen Campus， Guangzhou Huali College.

The event was co-hosted by the School of Health and Nursing, the School of Pharmacy, and the International School. Over 200 attendees participated, including all faculty members from the School of Health and Nursing and the School of Pharmacy, as well as student representatives from the nursing, pharmacy, and traditional Chinese medicine programs of the Class of 2024. Professor Shuze Tang, Dean of the International School, moderated the session and provided interpretation for the lecture.

Professor Ante Simonic with audience in the Seminar Hall

Professor Ante Simonić began by analyzing the current challenges and opportunities faced by the international medical field, and then introduced the concept of Integrative Medicine as the theme of the report.

Professor Ante Simonić proposed the concept of "Integrative Medicine"

Professor Ante Simonić planed to establish a European TCM Integrative Medicine Center in Croatia

        To address the skepticism and challenges Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) encounters globally, Professor Ante Simonić recommends that Chinese researchers, educators, and policymakers collaborate to integrate research methodologies from Western medicine, aiming to establish standardized practices and regulations for TCM. He emphasizes the importance of actively partnering with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations to secure TCM's recognition and protection as a fundamental aspect of the "right to health" for all. By applying evidence-based scientific approaches, he envisions TCM contributing credible integrative medical evidence that will gain worldwide acceptance.

Professor Ante Simonić offered suggestions for promoting Traditional Chinese Medicine

        Professor Ante Simonić delivered a humorous and captivating lecture, filled with engaging highlights, to a packed audience. Faculty members and students from diverse departments actively took part in the event. The interactive session featured a vibrant discussion on the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in global medical collaboration and strategies for its promotion.

Professor Ante Simonić patiently responded to questions from on-site faculty and students

Dean Liqun Yang reviewed Professor Ante Simonić's academic report

        Professor Liqun Yang, Dean of the School of Health and Nursing, praised Professor Ante Simonić's exceptional and insightful academic presentation at the conclusion of his lecture. Dean Yang expressed heartfelt gratitude for his enthusiasm for Traditional Chinese Medicine and his dedication to promoting and sharing its cultural heritage. She extended sincere thanks for his guidance and the valuable knowledge he shared, while expressing hope for increased educational collaboration with universities in Croatia and Europe through his networks. Such partnerships, she noted, would enhance the internationalization of Guangzhou Huili College students and expand their global outlook.

Faculty and students took a group photo with Professor Ante Simonić

        When Professor Ante Simonić visited Huali, President Jiesheng Liu traveled from the main campus in Guangzhou to the Jiangmen campus specifically to meet and welcome Professor Simonić and his delegation.

President Jiesheng Liu (5th from the left) met and greeted Professor Ante Simonić (center) and his delegation at the Jiangmen Campus Conference Room (5th from the right, Dr. Rita, Secretary-General of the Croatia-China Friendship Association, 1st and 2nd from the right, Teachers Qiyun Sun and Shaonan Zhou from the Office of International School Jinan University)

Profile of Professor Ante Simonić

        Professor Ante Simonić currently serves as the Chairman of the Croatia - China Senior Advisory Committee, a tenured professor at the Medical School of the University of Rijeka, the President of the Croatia - China Friendship Association, the President of the World Wine Industry Alliance, and the Chairman of the Croatia - China Cooperation Committee of the University of Rijeka. He holds a Doctor of Neuropharmacology degree, double Master's degrees in Cardiovascular and Pharmacology, and a Bachelor of Clinical Medicine degree. He is also a Fulbright Scholar (University of Michigan, USA) and a visiting professor at Ghent University in Belgium.

Professor Ante Simonić once held positions including Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia (in charge of science, education, culture, health, sports and social activities), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China, Ambassador to Mongolia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a member of the Croatian Parliament, and the Dean of the Medical School of the University of Rijeka. In 2017, he was awarded the Friendship Award of the Chinese government. On October 11, 2024, Ante Simonić was invited to attend the commemorative event for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries held in the Great Hall of the People and was honored with the title of "People's Friendship Envoy" by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and was received by President Jinping Xi.

On October 11, 2024, Professor Ante Simonić (in the middle of the first row) was invited to attend the commemorative event for the "China International Friendship Conference and the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries" held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and listened to President Xi's speech.

On the morning of October 11, 2024, President Xi met with foreign dignitaries and distinguished guests attending the commemorative event for the "China International Friendship Conference and the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries" in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (second row, second from the right, Professor Ante Simonić).

Written by Weiwei Lai

Revised by SM Hashmi

Approved by Shuze Tang