Despite H7N9 human infections, some 17 health officials from 14 Asian countries have traveled to Beijing to attend a 10-day traditional Chinese medicine training program held by the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The program, sponsored by the commission and organized by Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, was launched on Monday.

TCM is practiced in more than 160 countries and regions across the world, and some Asian countries have started integrating traditional and complementary medicine into their national health system to help improve healthcare access and limit dramatic increases in health expenditures, said Cui Yongqiang, chief of the hospital's international cooperation department. He's also in charge of the training program.

Cynthia Joan Mosher of Saudi Arabia visits a traditional Chinese medicine shop in Beijing. On Monday, 17 health officials from 14 Asian countries attended a 10-day TCM training program held by China's National Health and Family Planning Commission. [Wei Xiaohao / China Daily]

The program focuses on sharing China's experience in advancing TCM science, non-medicinal therapeutic techniques of TCM integrated with modern medicine and exploring efficient cooperative mechanisms among participating countries, Cui said.

"Both lectures and field studies, mainly about acupuncture, Chinese massage or tuina (a hands-on body treatment that incorporates principals of Taoism), are included in the training, which also serves as a platform for participants to exchange ideas and foster cooperation," he told China Daily at the launch.

Hu Meiqi, an international cooperation division chief of the commission, said: "China and many Asian countries have many similarities in economic development and healthcare systems. The program will help all participant countries better use TCM to improve national health."