A pharmacist processes the granules of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at Gansu Provincial Hospital of TCM in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Feb. 20, 2020. TCM has been widely applied in treating the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in China. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

LANZHOU, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The third traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry expo kicked off on Friday in northwest China's Gansu Province, with a series of events to be held over two days, including forums and trade fairs.

Topics such as the role of TCM in caring for human health will be discussed, while new policies, standards, and technologies concerning the TCM sector will be rolled out at the forums.

Besides offline activities, the expo also launched an online platform with 23 virtual exhibition halls for product promotions, brand displays, technical exchanges and project negotiations among the participants.

Gansu boasts more than 300,000 hectares of land allocated to growing TCM plants, with about 40 percent planted in a scientific and standardized manner to maximize yields.