BEIJING - China will accelerate the establishment and revision of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) standards in order to promote the tradition overseas, a health official said Thursday.

Wang Guoqiang, vice-minister of health and director of the State Administration of TCM, said at a national TCM work conference that the standardization of TCM will enhance its development and guarantee its quality.

Wang said the Chinese Medical Association has established 195 standards regarding TCM thus far.

Official statistics indicate that the central government spent 3.34 billion yuan ($537.4 million) to support TCM development last year.

TCM originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. Practitioners use herbs, acupuncture, massage and other methods to treat a wide range of illnesses. Animal parts, medicinal plants and extracts are all used in TCM.