China Academy of Chinese Medicine Science signs a MoU with Laos' Institute of Traditional Medicine for cooperation in medicinal plant research and use

On April 16, 2018, the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medicine Science signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and the Institute of Traditional Medicine of the Ministry of Health of Laos (Chinese MoU name: 《中国中医科学院中药资源中心与老挝卫生部传统医药研究院合作谅解备忘录》).

Per the MoU, the two sides agreed to carry out several actions, including joint research on the development and application of special plant resources of economic medicinal value in Laos based on a general survey of Laos' medicinal resources and a complication of Lao's flora, establish a research center on traditional medicinal herbs, employ advanced technology in joint comparative research on Traditional Chinese and Laotian medicine, train personnel for research into Laos' medicinal plant resources, and improve the development and use of Laos' plant resources.

The MoU was described as being Chinese medicine's contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). .

During an April 25, 2019 meeting in Beijing, representatives from Laos and China met and discussed the implementation of cooperation agreements on Laotian herbal medicines, which likely included this MoU.