Happy New Year and warm greetings as we begin the new year of 2019. On behalf of all the colleagues of World Journal of Integrated traditional and western Medicine (WJIM), I wish the authors, readers, friends from all TCM circles, who care for and support us, a successful career, a happy family and all the best.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to and cares about the development of Chinese medicine, and focuses on strengthening the top-level design and institutional construction for the development of Chinese medicine. In October 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out to promote the industrialization and modernization of Chinese medicine, and introduce Chinese medicine to the world. The 15thWorld Congress of Chinese Medicine and the "Belt and Road" Chinese Medicine Culture Week closed in Rome, Italy on November 18th, 2018. The Declaration of Rome was issued, setting the Global Chinese Medicine Day on October 11thof every year.

The year 2018 was the year when World Journal of Integrated traditional and western Medicine (WJIM) has been founded for 4 years. We seriously implemented the "Journals of Excellence" project by China Association for Science and Technology, which was successfully completed for the past 3 years and resulted in great achievements. Meanwhile, we organized the most influential periodical leaders, academic advisers of the journals and experts of the executive editorial board to conduct many strategic seminars on academic strategy of the way to improve the quality of the journal, greatly encouraging the authors to summit papers and improving the quality of the manuscripts.

English version of WJIM has just set up with less experience. To successfully run the journal, we need strong support and selfless contribution from the editorial board and the long-term great kindness and complete confidence of the authors and readers, WJIM has been growing up strong since its founding. Hereby, I express my sincere thanks to the editorial committees, editors, who made hard work to the journal; to the wide readers, authors who have been concerning the development of the journal to the academic advisors, who provided academic guidance to the journal and to experts who examined and approved the manuscripts.

In beginning of the New Year of 2019, I believe that after four years of development, the English vision of WJIM will have more confidence and ability to better serve the readers of Chinese medicine in the world and promote the international communication and development of Chinese medicine with higher quality, and more fully play a role in the implementation of the "Belt and Road Initiative" Initiative of Chinese medicine, and the building of a community of human health destiny.

We will unswervingly walk towards the aim of constructing a high level academic journal of Chinese and Western medicine; continue to make our contribution to the international development of traditional Chinese medicine. Let us not forget the very beginning mind itself and move forward bravely no matter what you will confront.