CHINA TO LAUNCH TRADITIONAL MEDICINE OUTLETS OVERSEAS

By Tham Choy Lin
BEIJING, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- China is planning to build a Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital in Russia, the first of its kind abroad, and
launch outlets in Europe. Africa and Southeast Asia this year.

"TCM service outlets, such as Chinese herb sales, short courses on TCM
training and TCM treatment centres will be launched in various countries in
Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia in 2009," Wang Xiaopin, a central TCM
official, told China Daily.

"The first TCM hospital outside China is expected to be built in Russia this
year," Wang, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine foreign
affairs deputy head, added. The move is aimed at boosting the recognition of TCM
internationally.

Wang said that last year, 170 countries imported TCM drugs worth 1.2 billion
yuan (about US$175.46 million) from China, up by 10 per cent from 2007.

China earned 10 million yuan (about USS1.46 million) last year from foreign
students taking up TCM courses here.

Wang said Chinese experts would continue to promote TCM in the United
States, France, Australia, Russia and in Africa where the focus will be on
preventing mosquito-borne diseases.
-- BERNAMA