On July 24, Zhao Junning, deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), met with Cessouma Minata Samate, commissioner for health, humanitarian and social affairs of the African Union (AU).

Zhao introduced the overall situation of the NMPA's regulatory work and China's pharmaceutical industry. In recent years, the NMPA has made continuous efforts to improve its drug regulatory system, encourage innovation in drug and medical devices, promote the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicines, and deeply participate in international exchanges and cooperation, so as to accelerate the scientific, law-based, international and modernized process of drug regulation, Zhao said.  

He stressed that the NMPA attaches great importance to cooperation with the AU, and has carried out a series of initiatives to support the construction of the African Medicines Agency and the implementation of the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization programme.

Samate spoke highly of the achievements China has made in drug regulatory reform, and presented the priorities of and progress in the AU's efforts to build a drug regulatory system and combat diseases.

Both sides agreed to work together to continuously push forward exchanges and cooperation in drug regulation between China and the AU.