Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region will actively establish a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) platform that will facilitate cooperation and exchange with ASEAN countries, support the construction of overseas TCM centers, and promote TCM culture internationally.

This was announced by local officials during a Nov 21 press conference.

Since the beginning of this year, Guangxi has been active in promoting the establishment of the China-Niger TCM Diagnosis and Treatment Center and the Guangxi-Malaysia TCM Center. The Guangxi-Malaysia TCM Center was inaugurated in October, and focuses on integrating education, medical treatment, production, and research functions.

This new center, and projects like it, contributes to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

Guangxi is known as China's "natural medicine cabinet" and "hometown of Chinese medicinal materials". It also serves as a window for China's opening up and cooperation with ASEAN countries.

Highlighting its distinctive advantages, Guangxi has built a national-level TCM ingredients market in Yulin, along with five import and export ports for medicinal materials.

The first Guangxi TCM Industry Exchange Conference was held in July this year, with 105 projects signed at the event. These projects have an intended total investment of 14.5 billion yuan ($2.03 billion).