The inauguration came a little more than one year after the opening of the Confucius Institute, which was established in March 2015 by the educational authorities in China and San Marino in a bid to boost bilateral cooperation.[Photo/Xinhua]

The official launch of the museum marked a highly relevant moment, officials at the ceremony explained.

"This is a crucial step for us," San Marino Secretary of State for Education Giuseppe Morganti said.

"The TCM is extraordinarily relevant to the health and wellness of the humanity, and we believe this result will be followed by other countries," Morganti added.

The one in San Marino is the first TCM museum established in Europe, although this ancient healing art has long made its way and gained popularity in the western countries.

Combined with the Confucius Institute's dedicated courses, the new museum would play a crucial role in further promoting the transmission of the TCM knowledge, Luo Ping, Educational Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Italy and San Marino, said at the ceremony.

Traditional Chinese Medicine leader Tong Ren Tang, founded in 1669, sponsored the museum and provided all the materials.

Friday's opening ceremony was accompanied by the presence of several Italian and Chinese artists, who offered music and opera shows.