July 3 (Xinhua) -- China will help Thailand to set up a traditional Chinese medicine center in Thailand, which is aimed to be the best of its kind in the Southeast Asia, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries signed here Monday.

"We will offer technology and management assistance to Thailand under the MOU, " said visiting Chinese Health Minister Zhang Wenkang, after signing the document with his Thai counterpart Korn Dabbaransi.

The center will include all the education, research and service activities concerned with traditional Chinese medicine, the MOU said.

"By setting up such a center, China and Thailand will revive the traditional medicine with modern technology, which will eventually benefit not only the people of the two countries, but also the whole world, " Zhang told Xinhua at the signing ceremony.

He also hailed the MOU as a sign of the strengthening relationship and cooperation between the two countries, which have just celebrated the 25 anniversary of the establishment of Sino- Thai diplomatic relations on July 1.

After citing the many other traditional Chinese medicine centers which have been thriving in the Southeast Asia region, Zhang believed the Thai center can compete well and eventually become the best.

Korn, on his part, noted that the cooperative plan of the two countries to build such a center will bring more choices for the Thai people to take care of their health.

"Now, Thai people can choose among western, Thai and Chinese medicine, " he remarked.

The MOU was signed in accordance with a recent decision of the Thai authorities to give the traditional Chinese medicine a legal status in the country.

　　(From China Internet Information Center)