Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Nominated as a Global Compact Pioneer Enterprise

　　The summit released the results of the “Pioneering Enterprises for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” selection, and Qizheng Tibetan Medicine was among the winners.

　　On August 22, the “2016 China Summit for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” hosted by the China Network of the Global Compact, was held in Beijing. During the summit, the results of the “Pioneering Enterprises for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” selection were announced, and Qizheng Tibetan Medicine was among the winners.

　　Qizheng Tibetan Medicine was registered and established in 1995 in the Linzhi region of Tibet, positioning itself as a “modern inheritor of millennia-old Tibetan medicine.” Fully aware of the importance of industrializing Tibetan medicine and ensuring the sustainable use of Tibetan medicinal resources, the company has been committed throughout its long-term development to the protective exploitation and sustainable research of these resources. It places great emphasis on advancing both Tibetan medicine research and industrial development, thereby contributing to the protection of the ecological and natural resources in Tibetan areas. At the same time, as the company operates in ethnic minority regions, it is dedicated to fully fulfilling its social responsibilities and promoting the sustainable development of Tibetan areas. Based on its current multi-ethnic and cross-regional operations, the company creates value for all stakeholders while advocating the integration of ethnicity, culture, technology, and talent—leveraging each party’s strengths, treating all partners equally, and fostering harmonious progress together. In 2015, the company achieved an operating revenue of 995 million yuan and a net profit of 261 million yuan. It paid 181 million yuan in taxes in the Tibet region and has cumulatively paid 1.262 billion yuan in taxes in Tibet to date.

　　At the afternoon session of the “Green Forum – Jointly Building New Mechanisms for a Green Ecosystem” sub-forum, Ms. Feng Ping, Vice President of the company, shared Qizheng’s experience in sustainable development:

　　The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the regions with the richest biodiversity in the world, yet it is also one of the most ecologically fragile areas. The Chinese government has designated it as an ecological barrier and protected zone. For more than two decades, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine has been committed to biodiversity conservation in this region from three different levels.

　　First, we are pursuing sustainable exploration at the enterprise level. We place great emphasis on resource surveys and adopt a source-oriented strategy; continuously optimize our production processes to enhance the efficiency of medicinal material utilization. Our raw medicinal materials primarily come from regions such as Tibet and Qinghai. We uphold sustainable practices in their places of origin, recognizing and committing ourselves to helping local residents leverage their local ecological resources for survival and development. Since 1996, we have been conducting research and establishing bases for the conservation, cultivation, and wild restoration of Tibetan medicinal herbs. Currently, we have over 100,000 mu of various bases and are engaged in research on the cultivation and conservation of more than 30 species of Tibetan medicinal herbs. After more than a decade of effort, we have successfully developed cultivation techniques for 27 different varieties.

　　Second, there has been extensive exploration of sustainability at the societal level. A great deal of work has been done to promote the sustainable development of the local natural ecosystem, including undertaking government projects for the cultivation of Tibetan medicinal herbs, actively advocating for and successfully having the aerial parts of the plant Duliwei included in the Pharmacopoeia, and establishing the Nanyi Gou Tibetan Medicinal Herb Natural Reserve in Linzhi in 1996. At the policy level, we have actively called upon and urged relevant government departments to take action. In 2015, we advocated for the establishment of a three-tier catalog for the sustainable utilization of Tibetan medicinal resources: resources that can be developed and utilized; resources whose development and utilization are restricted; and resources whose development and utilization are prohibited. In 2016, we called for the creation of a Tibetan medicinal resource protection zone centered on Nanyi Gou in Linzhi, Tibet, while also adopting a comprehensive, multi-site layout—spanning from the high-altitude Ali region down to the low-altitude Motuo—based on ecological characteristics, thereby establishing a Tibetan medicinal resource protection zone.

　　Third, there is the sustainable exploration at the cultural level. Qizheng believes that traditional knowledge is an essential component of biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization, and the inheritance and protection of culture are the foundation for the proper use of Tibetan medicinal materials. In 2007, the company established a special fund for “Tibetan Cultural Preservation and Inheritance,” and to date, nearly 200 projects have been launched under this initiative. Among them, the “Hundred Clinics in Tibetan Areas” program has been running for eight years, during which a total of 14 Tibetan medical clinics have been donated, constructed, and supported in Tibetan areas including Tibet and Qinghai. These clinics have earned the deep trust and popularity of local residents and have become windows for the dissemination of Tibetan culture. The Gongbu Manlong Yutuo Tibetan Medical School provides traditional Tibetan medical education; to date, it has graduated 48 students whose medical skills have received high recognition from experts and Tibetan communities alike. Currently, there are 80 students enrolled in the school. Other initiatives include the reconstruction of the Naranzha Monastery’s Five Sciences Cultural Institute, the compilation and publication of rare Tibetan-language manuscripts belonging to Tuden Nima Rinpoche, the publication of the monumental work by national-level Tibetan medicine expert Chiangba Chilie, the publication of collected works and biographies of the Sera Tulkus, as well as the establishment of a science, technology, and cultural exhibition hall dedicated to the Tibetan pharmaceutical industry in Tibet.

　　In September 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations jointly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, introducing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goal is to address development challenges across the social, economic, and environmental dimensions in an integrated manner, thereby building a sustainable and prosperous future for humanity. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents a global consensus on sustainable development, and the SDGs have set forth priority areas for achieving sustainability. In response to the United Nations’ call to “Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” and with the aim of collecting and promoting outstanding sustainable development practices among Chinese enterprises, as well as showcasing the positive contributions that Chinese companies are making to both China’s and the world’s sustainable development efforts, the China Network of the UN Global Compact launched the “Pioneering Enterprises for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” selection initiative in 2016. Ultimately, a total of 32 enterprises were recognized as either pioneering enterprises or finalists.

　　The day’s conference aimed to showcase Chinese enterprises’ contributions to the cause of sustainable development and to explore the opportunities and challenges faced by businesses in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The summit was attended by approximately 500 participants, including the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, leaders from relevant national ministries and commissions, representatives from local Global Compact networks in the Asia-Pacific region and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as representatives from businesses, research institutions, and the media.

　　At the sub-forum titled “Green Forum: Jointly Building New Mechanisms for a Green Ecosystem,” Ms. Feng Ping, Vice President of the company, shared Qizheng’s experiences in sustainable development.

　　At the “2016 China Summit for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” Qizheng Tibetan Medicine showcased its sustainable development practices alongside those of other companies.