The second Belt and Road International Academic Exchange Conference takes place at the International Academic Exchange Center in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [WeChat account: alehospital]

A new medical exchange facility — the International Academic Exchange Center of Zhejiang University Sir Run Run Shaw Alaer Hospital — recently opened in Aral, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The building, with a gross area of 4,700 square meters, is funded by Taizhou in East China's Zhejiang province and designed to expand medical cooperation and training in southern Xinjiang.

The launch was marked by the Second Belt and Road International Conference on Traditional Chinese Medicine Academic Exchange in Aral, which featured experts from Russia and Brazil.

Twenty-two specialists from Zhejiang and other regions discussed clinical applications of traditional prescriptions, while doctors from Pakistan studied acupuncture and massage therapy.

The center includes an auditorium seating over 800 people with large screens, simultaneous interpretation systems and live-broadcast capabilities. It is able to host major medical conferences, specialist training sessions, and live surgical demonstrations conducted by leading domestic and overseas experts — creating a continuous learning platform for healthcare professionals.

Multiple telemedicine rooms, fitted with 4K video terminals and electronic record-sharing systems, enable real-time case discussions and surgical guidance between hospitals in southern Xinjiang and leading institutions in Zhejiang. The system also supports cross-border consultations with medical partners in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. 

By connecting southern Xinjiang with external medical resources and fostering international collaboration, the new center is said to offer a hub for academic exchanges, technical guidance and skills development.