TCM Awareness Abroad Grows

Members of the 27th Chinese medical team to Algeria pose with Algerian physicians at the TCM center of Ben Aknoun Hospital in Algiers. [Photo for China Daily]

Traditional Chinese Medicine is growing in recognition internationally and has become an important Chinese cultural symbol, senior officials said on Tuesday.

Yu Wenming, director of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that TCM is now available in 196 countries and regions.

Currently, there are 30 TCM centers abroad and 56 international TCM cooperation centers, he said at the International Forum on Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture in Beijing.

However, Yu said a number of problems exist in promoting TCM overseas, including cultural differences. "TCM facilities abroad also tend to be small and uninspiring," he said. "We should actively address these problems."

According to a survey conducted in 2020, about 30 percent of overseas respondents said they had experience of TCM and more than 80 percent said they had a positive impression, said Du Zhanyuan, director of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, said during the event.

"TCM has become a vigorous medium of Chinese culture," he added.

Du said the administration will expand domestic and international cooperation to enhance brand recognition of TCM in the future.