With a deft flick of her fingers, an acupuncturist swiftly inserted a needle into the scalp of a patient suffering from insomnia. A faint squeak sounded as the needle pierced the skin, drawing gasps from onlookers.

Among those impressed by the doctor's skill at Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine was Abdullah Obaid Alanazi, supervisor general of technical affairs at Saudi Arabia's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine under the Ministry of Health.

"Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history, heritage and roots, so its modalities are recognized and evidence-based," he said during a hospital tour on the sidelines of the 8th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Health Ministers' Meeting, held on Monday in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

"The most important (treatment) I've seen today is the head acupuncture related to treating the nerve system, as well as moxibustion," he said. "Through discussions with local doctors, I've also learned that TCM can be used as the first line of treatment and sometimes as a complementary and additional treatment after surgical procedures."

The role of traditional medicine in improving primary health care and advancing universal health coverage was one of four key topics discussed at the meeting, which brought together senior health ministers from SCO member states and representatives of international organizations.

Participants called for stronger cooperation in traditional medicine, including expanding TCM's accessibility and global influence.

In his remarks, Lei Haichao, minister of China's National Health Commission, urged SCO member states to continue hosting the SCO traditional medicine forum, collaborate on scientific research and clinical trials, and promote the standardization and modernization of traditional medicine.

"We propose establishing an SCO joint research facility for traditional medicine exchange in Shaanxi to cultivate talent and advance scientific research in the field," he said.

Lei added that China aims to step up international collaboration to explore medicinal plant resources and enrich traditional therapies.

Askat Dzhakypov, a scholar from a Kyrgyz university's department of oriental medicine, said the country has built partnerships with medical colleges in China's Gansu province and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region through personnel exchanges and joint research programs.

"Many people in Kyrgyzstan are now familiar with TCM," he said. "It's not just a treatment method. It embodies China's history, culture and the wisdom of the Chinese people."

He expressed interest in deeper cooperation with the TCM hospital in Xi'an.

"We want to learn about TCM not only through textbooks but also by experiencing its charm in clinical practice," he said.

Alanazi said a growing number of TCM practitioners are now working in Saudi Arabia, where authorities are implementing assessments, classifications and licensing measures to support their practice.

"The exposure of Saudi people to TCM is getting greater and greater day by day," he said.

Alanazi said Saudi authorities are in talks with their Chinese counterparts about expanding TCM's role in the country.

"Among the ideas is sending candidates and practitioners to training programs here (in China) and exchanging experts between the two countries," he said.

"I believe that traditional medicine is a heritage, and every nation can adopt their own or bring from other cultures," he added.