Ulaan, a member of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), recently submitted a proposal that the region should continue to advance the process of China’s and Mongolia's joint declaration of traditional Mongolian medicine as a world intangible cultural heritage.

Mongolian medicine is a traditional treasure for the Mongolian ethnic group and has a history of more than 2,000 years.

Experts say traditional Mongolian medicine and traditional Chinese medicine are very much alike.

Both operate on the Yin and Yang philosophy, the chills and fever theory and holism.

They say both hold that the human body is an organic whole, that different organs are closely related -- and that there is an intimate connection between man and nature and that man is an integral part of nature.

“Mongolian medicine is an integral part of the world's traditional medicine,” said Ulaan, who also Party secretary of the Inner Mongolia Medical University.

“It is safe, effective, convenient and inexpensive in the treatment of common, frequently-occurring and difficult diseases,” he added.

Traditional Mongolian medicine, which is generally considered to date to the time of Genghis Khan, is now stepping out of a relatively small circle of practitioners to reach more people.

The same source of traditional Mongolian medicine shared by China and Mongolia is a homogeneous cultural heritage -- and the joint application by China and Mongolia can shorten the application time, Ulaan added.

It will also boost the development of Mongolian medicine and make better use of Mongolian medicine's important role in foreign exchanges, foreign services and the promotion of good neighborliness and friendship.