AstraZeneca, a global science-led biopharmaceutical business headquartered in Cambridge, the United Kingdom, is solidifying its presence in the Chinese market at the ongoing fourth China International Import Expo, or the CIIE, held in Shanghai from Nov 5-10.

China has grown into the company's second-largest market in the world, and the country is playing an increasingly important strategic role in AstraZeneca's global business map in terms of research and development, production and operation, and business innovation, according to the company.

Since entering the Chinese market in 1993, AstraZeneca has introduced nearly 40 global high-quality innovative medicines, as well as advanced technology and production equipment, covering major diseases on respiration, the cardiovascular system, metabolism, digestion and kidneys.

Up to date, the company has invested more than $1 billion in China, with R&D investment totaling $1.5 billion and import value reaching $20 billion.

"As the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic becomes the new normal, high-quality innovation cooperation at home and abroad is getting increasingly important. The CIIE will help provide an excellent platform for enterprises to communicate, exchange and cooperate with each other, which also demonstrates China's determination to open up to the outside world at a high level and its responsibility as a major country," said Wang Lei, executive vice-president of AstraZeneca.

"This year marks AstraZeneca's fourth time to participate in the CIIE. We will connect global wisdom with China's opportunities, present a multitheme innovation ecosystem, and look forward to creating more breakthrough products with our partners," Wang added.

With a total exhibition area of 1,100 square meters, AstraZeneca is showcasing its achievements made in the past 28 years in China, covering multiple aspects such as R&D innovation, community-level healthcare and digital health ecology.

At the six-day event, the company is presenting its latest layout in the field of rare diseases, the latest progress and development plan of its R&D center in China and innovative medicines.

In addition, AstraZeneca has set up a 100-sq-m booth on "regional biomedical industry cooperation" at this year's CIIE, which is being used to display characteristic industries, hold industry promotion events, and carry out industrial exchanges and negotiations, to help promote regional economic development and build a medical industry hub with regional characteristics.

Since the first CIIE was held in 2018, AstraZeneca has participated in the global event for four consecutive years, not only contributing its efforts to help promote China's healthcare industry, but also experiencing rapid development itself.

At the third CIIE in 2020, the company signed investment agreements with the governments of Beijing, Guangzhou in Guangdong province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Chengdu in Sichuan province to establish regional headquarters there.

Its regional headquarters in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, Beijing, Hangzhou and Chengdu have been put into operation, and the one in Guangzhou is expected to be completed soon.

At the 2020 CIIE, AstraZeneca signed an agreement with Shanghai's Jing'an district to upgrade its R&D platform there into an R&D center, which came into service in October.

At the second CIIE, the company founded a special industry fund on healthcare, together with China Capital Investment Group.

The fund has completed first-phase financing of 2.2 billion yuan ($343.8 million), and has invested in enterprises in sectors including innovative medicine, diagnostic services and digital healthcare.