MANILA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Wednesday welcomed the approval of the popular traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen, a treatment for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

File photo: CGTN

"The Embassy is glad to learn that the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Chinese drug Lian Hua Qing Wen produced by one of China's renowned traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufacturers, Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., making the drug formally registered as TCM in the Philippines," the Embassy said in a statement.

"This marks an important progress in the entry of TCM products into the Philippine market, which we welcome," the Embassy added.

FDA Director General Enrique Domingo confirmed to Xinhua that the Lianhua Qingwen capsule has been approved.

According to the Embassy, the Lianhua Qingwen capsule is an approved COVID-19 treatment for mild and moderate cases in China.

Lianhua Qingwen capsule has also been approved in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and China's Macao SAR, Brazil, Indonesia, Canada, Mozambique, Romania, Thailand, Ecuador, Singapore and Laos.

"It is our sincere hope that its entrance into the Philippine market will contribute to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in this country and help the patients with mild and moderate symptoms recover," the Embassy statement read.

The Embassy also advised the consumers to purchase and consume authentic TCM produced by qualified pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Moreover, the Embassy voiced hope that TCM "would play a bigger role to support the efforts of the Philippine government and its people to fight against COVID-19 until the final victory."

The Philippines now has 143,749 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 68,997 recoveries and 2,404 deaths.