Malta's national hospital of Mater Dei opened its first traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) clinic, also the first of its kind in state hospitals in any European countries, reports reaching here from Malta's capital Valletta said Wednesday.

At an opening ceremony, Malta's Health Minister Louis Deguara and Chinese ambassador Chai Xi congratulated Mater Dei Hospital over the new clinic. On behalf of the Chinese government, the Chinese ambassador donated some medicines and medical equipment to the hospital.

Cao Dianpeng, chief of China's medical team to Malta, said the event was of great significance as it is the first time a TCM clinic has entered a state hospital in Europe.

The event will definitely promote the spread of the TCM across Europe and open up possibilities for more exchanges between the western medicine and the TCM.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2008)