Chinese political advisors attending their annual full session in Beijing said that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) should play an important role in health care in rural areas.

"Chinese have relied on TCM for thousands of years while Western medicine was introduced into the country several hundred years ago. TCM should and can play a bigger role in rural areas," said Zhu Qingsheng, former vice minister of health and now a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body.

Zhu's remarks won consent of a number of CPPCC members both from the medical sector and other circles. "I believe TCM is a good tool in building a system of primary health care services for both urban and rural residents," said CPPCC member Ha Xiaoxian, who is also an expert from the Harbin Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center.