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Dedicated
to Developing Tobetan Medicine
Lei Jufang used to be a technician at the Institute of Modern Physics
in Lanzhou under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Originally, her
work had nothing to do with Tibetan medicine.
In 1995, she went to Tibet as a member of a study group consisting
of industrialists from privately run enterprises in the fields of
science and technology. She was impressed by the primitive land in
southeastern Tibet, which she thought could be regarded as a world-level
botanical garden and a genetic engineering base for its fovorable
ecological environment. It was completely different from the frozen
land of her imagination. Lei was fascinated by this attractive land,
and began having a strong desire to contribute to the development
of Tibetan medicine there.
The development of Tibet is by no means an easy task. For instance,
one has to make a single trip of more than 2,500 kilometers to ship
machinery and related equipment for the manufacture of Tibetan medicine.
However, the introduction of high technology to Tibet would give a
tremendous boost to the development of the local economy and bring
hope to the local people for the relief of poverty.
Guided by this ideal, at the end of her study tour Lei Jufang decided
to invest 10 million yuan to establish the Nyingchi Qizheng Tibetan
Pharmaceuticals Factory in Nyingchi Prefecture, with the application
of a technique she had patented which had won a silver medal. The
venture was soon successful. In 1999, the annual income from sales
of Qizheng Tibetan medicine topped one million yuan-worth. As a pillar
industry, the Nyingchi Qizheng Pharmaceuticals Factory became one
of the Leading enterprises in Nyingchi in terms of profits and payment
of taxes to the state.
In Lei's words, Tibet has a unique position in world history and
in the history of human development as a whole. But its charm can
be fully appreciated worldwide only when modern science and technology
are applied to accelerate local economic growth. In 1999, Qizheng
Tibetan medicine earned a gold medal at the 26th International Exhibition
held in Geneva. Upon receipt of this honor, Lei said that Tibetan
medicine would soon be as famous as Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest)
as a symbol of Tibet.
Lei Jufang also succeeded in developing a new ointment based on
Tibetan medicine, which has been used by Chinese athletes for four
years. Leading athletes, including noted gymnast Li Xiaoshuang and
world-famous diving champion Fu Mingxia, insist on having this ointment
available during competitions, as it is effective and leaves no scars.
Lei is also the first person in China to use the vacuum dry-freezing
technique to extract the most effective elements from fresh medicinal
herbs. Lei organized technical workers, and began production of the
new medicines using China-made machines and equipment, which are just
as efficient but much cheaper than similar machinery imported from
Japan.
In 1998, she invested 15 million yuan to establish the Gannan Foge
Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd, and workshops for producing new Tibetan
medicines in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province.
She strictly follows the requirements of the modern pharmaceutical
industry in management. In October 1999, Qizheng Tibetan medicine
passed appraisal by the State Pharmaceuticals Administration.
In 1996, Lei Jufang was invited to attend the symposium on How the
Underdeveloped Areas Develop Their Economies in the Faces of the Economic
Crisis, held by the United Nations in Thailand. She said that a combination
of superiority of natural resources with advanced science and technology
would accelerate the economic development of the underdeveloped areas
and help local people to escape poverty. She mentioned that she was
planning to attract more overseas funds to establish pillar industries
in remote areas of China. Her achievements and her new plans drew
great attention from the officials attending the meeting. It is important
for Chinese scientists themselves to play an exemplary role in changing
the backword situation of China's remote areas. The establishment
of high-tech projects by Lei Jufang in remote areas of Tibet and Gansu
is a great inspiration in this regard.
Lei is often asked why she gave up her work at the Chinese Academy
of Sciences and chose to work in remote areas. Her answer is that
she is sure the road she has taken is the correct one. The development
of science and technology, either in Tibet or in Gansu Province, is
similar to the Buddhist belief in the rightness of delivering all
living creatures from torment. She not only gets along well but also
maintains close ties with the local people. Sometimes she is moved
by their sincere support and friendship, feeling that her soul has
been purified. |
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