Wang Guoqiang, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, called on all countries to strengthen development of traditional medicine so as to bring more medical solutions to human beings.

Wang said the Chinese government has considered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) promotion as a key national strategy and made great efforts to support its development.

"Keeping equal weight with TCM and western medicine will be a key task in the healthcare sector in China," Wang said.

China has set development goals in the TCM sector for the next 15 years. The Healthy China 2030 Plan, a national blueprint to promote healthcare development in China, also highlights the importance of TCM, Wang said.

China has reported significant progresses in promoting TCM services in China in the past few years.

Every county in China has at least one public TCM hospital. Over 90 percent community service centers and over 80 percent township and village-level hospitals have launched TCM services. Those TCM service spots has played crucial role in reducing the burden on medical systems in China, Wang said.

"Not only is TCM the treasure of the nation, it is also one of China's contributions to the world," said Wang.

Tu Youyou, a professor at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine discovered artemisinin from TCM in 1971. It is a drug that has significantly reduced the mortality rate for patients suffering from malaria. Tu won the Nobel Prize for her contribution to the healthcare sector in 2015.

“The TCM industry sector is seeing increasing demand and development opportunities. It will make significant contribution to human health,” said Zhang Boli, president of the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.

“We should shift emphasis from disease to quality of life and from physical illness to psychological balance,” Zhang said.

Zhang Qi, head of the division of Traditional and Complementary Medicine of World Health Organization, said that traditional medicine is becoming more popular around the world. An increasing number of people in Africa and Asia are seeking traditional medicine to help with their health problems.

In 2013, the World Health Organization issued three goals and six development directions to promote traditional medicine development in modern society.

Gu Honghui, district mayor of the Changning district of Shanghai, said Changning has launched health management projects since 2009. The region is the first batch of areas that were recognized as a health management pilot zone in China.

Tang Xiaoming, mayor of Dingxi city in Gansu province, said that the city has paid much attention to TCM promotion to “help ordinary people solve health problems in the easiest way.”

All females above 45 years old and males above 55 years old are provided body check services in Dingxi. TCM doctors have given suggestions to those who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases.