A traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) promotion activity kicked off at the New Zealand Parliament Building on Thursday.

Four TCM practitioners from Beijing diagnosed and treated local people.

Raymond Huo, chairman of New Zealand Parliamentary Justice Select Committee, said that the cultural experience of TCM is in line with the theme of the 2019 China-New Zealand Year of Tourism.

"In the global arena, traditional Chinese medicine is attracting more and more people. Legislation management is the guarantee for the overseas development of traditional Chinese medicine. The EU, the United States and Australia are trying the legislation of traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. The New Zealand Parliament has included traditional medicine in the legislative plan as early as 2010," said Huo.

"The main reason for the current delay on the progress of overseas traditional Chinese medicine legislation is that we have limited knowledge or understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, and there is a long way to go for international exchange and popularization of traditional Chinese medicine," he added.

Wang Xiaofeng, director general of the Department of International Cooperation of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese medicine of China, believed this event will promote the cultural exchange between China and New Zealand, so that more New Zealanders can understand and experience TCM.

"Traditional Chinese medicine has a history of thousands of years and is an important part of China's profound culture and an advantage and feature of Chinese medical science. Traditional Chinese medicine not only belongs to China, but also belongs to the world. It has spread to 183 countries and regions," Wang said.

"Traditional Chinese medicine not only has advantages and characteristics in the treatment of chronic diseases, functional diseases and complex diseases, but also plays a prominent role in the prevention and treatment of acute infectious diseases," Wang added.

Guo Zongguang, director of the China Cultural Center in Wellington, saw the promotion as an opportunity to strengthen ties between New Zealand and China.

"Under the concept of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing, it is necessary to promote traditional Chinese medicine to go overseas."

In the next two days, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners from China will enter New Zealand schools and museums to hold workshops and other activities.