PRAGUE, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Sino-Czech Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Center opened in Prague, capital of Czech Republic on Thursday.

The center, with an exhibition hall, library, classroom and consultation room, is principally engaged in teaching and promotion of TCM in the country.

The Shanghai Shuguang Hospital will send long- and short-term TCM specialists to the Czech Republic to ensure normal operation of the center and the Czech Endowment Fund for support of TCM and Alternatives will provide necessary support for the center.

"Czech people and even the western-medicine doctors in the country are still not so familiar with the TCM and its efficacy, that's why I'm glad to see the opening of the Sino-Czech TCM center," said Roman Prymula, Vice-Minister of Health of Czech Republic, at the opening ceremony, "I do believe TCM has its own merits and I hope Czech people will know more about it."

Zhang Jianmin, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, said that though TCM comes from China, it belongs to all mankind and should serve the people not only in China but also the whole world, including the Czech Republic. The opening of the center will help setting up a new bridge between the people of the two countries.