Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and more than ten countries and regions agreed in Beijing Saturday to hold the 2006 governmental forum on traditional medicines in China.

The forum is slated to be held in Beijing in October 2006.

It aims to promote the development and management of traditional medicines and establish cooperation mechanisms among the governmental health administrations, according to Shen Zhixiang, director general of the Department of International

Cooperation under the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicines.

The topics will cover traditional medicine certification, legislation and management, Shen said.

WHO representative Zhang Xiaorui also proposed to introduce topics like the traditional medicines safety and education at the forum.

The representatives are participating in a preparation meeting for the second international technology conference on the modernization of Chinese traditional medicines, which will open Sunday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.