Commerce Minister Wang Wentao Meets Intensively with Multiple Multinational Pharmaceutical Executives; Comprehensive Participation in "Healthy China" Initiative Holds New Opportunities

LightningPacketLoss · 2026-03-24T09:15:47+00:00

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao recently met with executives from several multinational pharmaceutical companies, introducing opportunities in China's "15th Five-Year Plan" and emphasizing that biopharmaceuticals will become an emerging pillar industry. He committed to strengthening intellectual property protection and policy transparency. Corporate executives expressed optimism about the prospects of China's pharmaceutical market and plan to increase investments to support the "Healthy China" initiative.

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2026-03-24 09:15:47

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China Securities Journal Reporter Qin Yanling

According to the Ministry of Commerce, from March 20 to March 21, Minister Wang Wentao held intensive meetings with several senior executives of multinational pharmaceutical companies. He introduced the opportunities for China outlined in the “14th Five-Year Plan” and provided foreign investment with more stable development expectations.

On March 21, Wang Wentao met with Wu Sipao, President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), as well as leaders from Novartis, AstraZeneca, Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical. Wang pointed out that the “14th Five-Year Plan” explicitly emphasizes implementing a health-first development strategy, listing biopharmaceuticals as a new pillar industry, strengthening intellectual property protection, increasing policy transparency, and improving regulatory efficiency. These measures create new opportunities for multinational pharmaceutical companies to participate comprehensively in building a Healthy China.

Representatives from the associations and multinational pharmaceutical companies attending the meeting expressed that China plays a crucial role in the global pharmaceutical market, has integrated into the global biopharmaceutical innovation ecosystem, and remains optimistic about the future development of China’s pharmaceutical industry. They are willing to increase investment and bring more cutting-edge international products and technologies to China to support the construction of a Healthy China.

On March 20, Wang also met with David Ricks, Chairman and CEO of Eli Lilly. Ricks stated that China’s “14th Five-Year Plan” presents opportunities for multinational companies. Eli Lilly is optimistic about its development prospects in China and plans to increase its investment by $3 billion over the next decade to help build a Healthy China.

(Edited by: Wen Jing)

Keywords: Pharmaceutical companies Medicines

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