China's traditional medicine is part of Chinese culture and a major component of the country's health industry, said Vice Premier Wu Yi Thursday when she addressed the opening of a national working conference on traditional Chinese medicine.

In her speech, Wu called for inheriting and developing traditional medicine. Great efforts should be made to support the industry, so as to help it develop in a sustained, healthy and rapid way, she noted.

Economic globalization and cultural pluralism have created broad prospects for traditional Chinese medicine, Wu said. She urged all localities and departments concerned to give priority to this issue.

Wu is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. She took over as the minister of public health during last year's outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2004)