This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-U.K. ambassadorial diplomatic relations. It is widely believed that China and the U.K. can continue to deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as trade in goods, finance, manufacturing and infrastructure, while expanding cooperation in healthcare, new energy vehicle and digital economy.

Acting as a major platform for international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchanges and open cooperation, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) has been held for four consecutive years and is widely regarded as an international public good for economic globalization and multilateral trading system, as well as a pivotal carrier for building an open world economy and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Last year, nearly 350 enterprises from 33 countries and regions participated in the Medical Equipment and Healthcare Products exhibition area at the 4th CIIE. Among them, more than 70 were Fortune Global 500 companies in the medical and pharmaceutical industry, occupying an exhibition area of 70,000 square meters. The exhibition area had 135 technology and product debuts, the most out of all the other areas.

British biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has participated in the CIIE for four consecutive years. Upbeat about the long-term prospects of the Chinese market, AstraZeneca is committed to it, though lingering COVID-19 pandemic and fragile global economic recovery are weighing on business.

“As a global-leading biopharmaceutical company, we attach importance to cooperation and innovation,” said Leon Wang, EVP, international and China president of the company, adding that China has rolled out a host of opening-up policies and nurtured abundant emerging growth drivers.

Two exhibitors exchange views during the signing ceremony.

The CIIE not only provides an excellent platform for foreign pharmaceutical and medical equipment enterprises to enter the Chinese market but also helps focus on some cutting-edge thinking within the industry.

An online seminar on rare diseases was held on May 12 by the China International Import Expo Bureau, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), and the medicine special committee of the CIIE Enterprise Alliance.

According to senior executives from Takeda, Novartis, Pfizer and Sanofi, all of which are members of the medicine special committee of the CIIE Enterprise Alliance, the annual import expo has helped accelerate the approval process and market entry of many of their products.

In addition, the rehab and elderly care subsection will come back to the Medical Equipment & Healthcare Products exhibition area at the 5th CIIE. The subsection, which is expected to occupy 4,000 square meters this year, has to date attracted the participation of major companies, including Sivantos Group, a hearing aids manufacturer; Bewatec, a German supplier of hardware and software solutions for hospitals; and Össur, an Iceland-based producer of non-invasive equipment for orthopedics.

The subsection will work with organizations such as the Ministry of Civil Affairs and China Disabled Persons’ Federation to hold high-level sideline events this year to create more benefits for exhibitors and purchasers.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other potential obstacles, the 5th CIIE will be held from November 5 to 10 this year as scheduled.

To date, more than 75% of the planned exhibition space of the 5th CIIE has been reserved. More than 250 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders, as well as most of the world’s top 10 companies in the pharmaceutical, medical equipment and automobile industries, have confirmed their participation in the expo.

It’s time to seize the myriad opportunities in the Chinese market through the CIIE. Be sure to sign up for the 5th edition this year! Click here to register: https://www.ciie.org/exhibition/f/book/register?locale=en&from=med