Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi said Wednesday that China hopes to enhance international cooperation on the promotion of Chinese traditional medicine with other countries worldwide.

"China's traditional medicine, already with a history of over 3,000 years, boasts special advantages in medical treatment, rehabilitation and healthcare," Wu, also China's minister of health, said in her meeting with Italy's Health Minister Gerolamo Sirchia.

Cooperation between China and Italy in health and trade is conducive to the peoples of the two countries, she said.

The vice-premier said the Chinese government supported the medical professionals and entrepreneurs from China and Italy to work together to develop new medicines and medical equipment.

Through such cooperation, quality Chinese medical products can be introduced into Italy and other European Union countries and Italy-made high-tech medical products can also be brought into the Chinese market, Wu said.

Wu also thanked the Italian government and people for its support to China's fight against SARS.

Sirchia expressed Italy's strong interests in Chinese traditional medicine. "Italy is willing to improve cooperation with China in the fields of traditional medicine and emergent aid so as to bring benefits to the two peoples," he said.

China and Italy last May signed several agreements on the Chinese traditional medicine development, disease diagnoses and treatment as well as drug monitoring and administration.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2004)