Xi's speech at CIIE draws positive reactions
Leon Wang, executive vice-president at AstraZeneca
President Xi's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the CIIE is very encouraging, especially for foreign-invested companies. His speech reinforces AstraZeneca's confidence in continued investment in China, which is now AstraZeneca's second-largest market, globally. We expect China to play an increasingly important strategic role in our global business map.
President Xi particularly mentioned that China would further open up in the healthcare industry, and we are glad to seize such opportunities and reaffirm our commitment to China, continuing to introduce global innovations and boosting our local R&D efforts. Meanwhile, we will continuously cooperate with our cross-sector partners to develop China-based healthcare IoT innovation platforms.
AstraZeneca also will proactively participate in Belt and Road building, and facilitate promotion of more Chinese innovations into the Belt & Road countries and regions. In fact, our Smart Nebulization Center Project has already been introduced to such places, and we will offer more healthcare IoT innovation projects to the "Belt & Road" community to benefit more patients.
For AstraZeneca, we firmly believe that a globalized economy and free trade is in our interests. We appreciate the Chinese leader's vision of achieving shared development and prosperity through closer cooperation among people in the world.
AstraZeneca's 25th anniversary in China also coincides with the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. It is of profound significance for AstraZeneca that we are participating in the first import expo in Shanghai, which is China's economic hub and frontline of continued reform and opening-up. The success of the CIIE showcases China's confidence and resolution to strengthen its cooperation with other countries, and proves the country's strong willingness to share the benefits of economic growth and raising the world's expectations for a more open Chinese market.
