Lei Jufang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, talks about giving back to society and advises young people not to pursue wealth as their primary goal when starting a business.

　　As the 2017 National Two Sessions were solemnly held in Beijing, China Tibet Online conducted an exclusive interview with Lei Jufang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairwoman of Tibet Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd., to hear her discuss the contents of her proposal, the inheritance of Tibetan medicine culture, and corporate social responsibility.

　　△ Lei Jufang Accepts an Exclusive Interview with China Tibet Online

　　Reporter: You served as a deputy to the Tenth National People’s Congress and as a member of the 11th and 12th National Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Over the years you’ve been in office, you’ve submitted numerous proposals focusing on the ethnic medicine industry, each year drawing significant media attention. In your memory, which of these proposals effectively spurred the introduction and implementation of industrial policies?

　　Lei Jufang: At the earliest stage, I proposed a motion on combating counterfeit products. Later, the National Medical Products Administration also issued regulations concerning medical devices. Although implementation still needs improvement, at least regulations have now been put in place.

　　Second, regarding the proposal to encourage appropriate formulation improvements for Tibetan medicines: Currently, the review and approval process for Tibetan medicines and other ethnic medicines still follows the standards set for traditional Chinese medicines. We believe that, given the relatively low level of industrialization in the Tibetan medicine sector—and indeed in other ethnic medicine sectors—this review and approval policy should be adjusted appropriately to reflect these differences. We should actively encourage suitable formulation innovations for ethnic medicines, and we must avoid adopting a one-size-fits-all approach when considering changes to existing formulations. We suggest that, while fully respecting intellectual property rights, we should encourage appropriate formulation modifications for certain suitable varieties of Tibetan medicines. In October 2016, the National Medical Products Administration held a meeting in Linzhi, Tibet, specifically focused on the registration of Tibetan medicines—this meeting was triggered by my very proposal. I’ve seen firsthand how seriously the government takes such proposals and how pragmatically it’s moving forward with various initiatives.

　　The last point I’m particularly proud of is that, in the development of new drugs based on classic prescriptions from traditional Chinese medicine and Tibetan medicine, we hope to draw on internationally advanced experience and avoid making clinical trials a mandatory verification method. This is because clinical trials are extremely time-consuming and costly, placing an unbearable burden on many small and medium-sized enterprises. The recently promulgated “Law on Traditional Chinese Medicine” has already incorporated this provision—of course, this outcome is also the result of the concerted efforts of many people.

　　△ Awards Received by Qizheng Tibetan Medicine

　　Reporter: You previously served as the Vice President of the China Guangcai Program Foundation and have long been committed to poverty alleviation efforts in western China and Tibetan areas, focusing on healthcare, education, and other areas.

　　Lei Jufang: Real industry must be deeply rooted in the land. A company’s social responsibility is, in fact, the foundation upon which its corporate culture is built and on which its future development rests. Therefore, giving back to society is fundamentally a company’s duty. Looking back at human history, we find that those enterprises that have thrived and endured over the long term have invariably been the best at giving back to society as well. With this goal in mind, we previously launched a sub-fund under the Guangcai Project Foundation of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee—a project dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture. We’ve been supporting schools and Tibetan medical clinics, and these two projects will continue moving forward. Meanwhile, in accordance with the spirit of the Charity Law, Qizheng will establish a foundation in the autonomous region. This foundation will primarily engage in basic research for the inheritance of Tibetan medicine and in tackling key scientific challenges related to the treatment of serious diseases. At the same time, it will promote engineering education in Tibetan areas. Currently, cultural heritage education in Tibetan regions is thriving, but engineering education remains relatively weak. We hope to cultivate a group of talented individuals with an international perspective who will specialize in Tibet’s industrial development.

　　Reporter: Besides your attention to the Tibetan medicine industry, you’ve also paid considerable attention to livelihood issues in Tibet over the years. We’ve noticed that you place particular emphasis on cultivating talent in Tibetan areas. What prompted this focus?

　　Lei Jufang: First of all, I feel that visiting Tibet has been profoundly cleansing for me personally. It’s as if I’ve finally found a direction in life. Such rich cultural and natural resources call for individuals who not only have a strong educational background but are also genuinely committed to dedicating themselves to this cause. Many Tibetan children are exceptionally pure and naturally endowed with an innate attachment to and awareness of their culture. Yet many of them experience feelings of uncertainty and confusion. As a business, it is our responsibility to help them sustain their passion and deep-seated affection for their culture—and at the same time, enable them to channel that passion into meaningful contributions to society and to their communities and fellow villagers.

　　△ Awards Received by Qizheng Tibetan Medicine

　　Reporter: Recently, many young people in Tibet have been starting businesses through new online platforms and entering the Tibetan medicine industry. What’s your take on this group, and what advice would you give them?

　　Lei Jufang: I’ve come into contact with some young Tibetan entrepreneurs, and their ideas are all excellent. However, overall, Tibet’s industrial foundation is relatively weak. So I believe it’s crucial to first establish a solid foundation in your chosen industry and actively engage in practical, hands-on work within that field. If we look at truly successful entrepreneurs internationally, we’ll find that they’ve all thoroughly immersed themselves in their industries—they know the industry inside out and have a deep understanding of it, which enables them to pinpoint clear directions for future innovation. Therefore, for today’s entrepreneurs, while we should cherish their enthusiasm, my advice is not to be too impatient and not to set “immediate success and wealth” as your sole goal. After all, entrepreneurship is indeed a process of gradual accumulation and building up over time.

　　Reporter: After your term as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference comes to an end this year, what are your plans for the future?

　　Lei Jufang: “I have too many plans, but the most important thing is to do a good job with the foundation’s work. Additionally, I hope to find more opportunities to learn and to go out and explore the sacred mountains and lakes of our Tibetan region.”

　　Reporting media: China Tibet Online

　　Report link: http://www.tibet.cn/news/focus/1488631729196.shtml