China plans to open about 20 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) collaboration centers this year in countries and regions covered by the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Wang Xiaopin, Director of the International Cooperation Department at the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A special fund was set up last last year with primary investment of CNY20 million to finance the centers. About 300,000 Chinese TCM practitioners are working worldwide. The international market for TCM products and services is valued at USD50 billion. More than 10,000 foreigners arrive in China each year to learn TCM. Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong province are their top destinations. Gao Sihua, former President of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said that China still lacks professionals with a good command of both TCM and English.