Chinanews, Kunming, May 25 - During the 11th Five-Year Plan Period (2006-2010), China will use advanced science and technology to boost the modernization and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in hopes of improving the competitiveness of TCM in the global market.The information was released in Kunming, Yunnan Province on May 23, at the third National TCM Modernization Industrial Base Operation Conference, by Liu Yanhua, Vice Minister of Science and Technology.TCM is one of the most important cultural legacies of China and the entire human world as well, with its unique efficacy in curing diseases and improving health. China has invested a lot of effort on the development of TCM, both theoretically and practically.In the next 4 years, the Ministry of Science and Technology will invest even more on TCM, to guarantee that the experience of old TCM doctors and precious herbal resources will be securely preserved. Several TCM industrial bases will be built, too.According to Liu, two national TCM research projects: the development of new patent medicines, and the promotion of TCM remedies for infectious diseases like AIDS and hepatitis, will be launched soon.