'New development stage' embraced by multinational firms

A1: As China embarks on a new development journey in its 14th Five-Year Plan to step up building an advanced socialist economy, the government indicated on multiple occasions that it will continue to foster "innovation" and advance "opening-up". As a multinational company with established presence in China, GSK is significantly inspired by these positive signals.

GSK has a history in China for over a century with a constant commitment to helping improve the health, life and future of Chinese people. Holding the belief that China has huge market potential and unlimited opportunities, we are more confident to increase investment in China, to accelerate the introduction of innovation achievements, and to grow together with the China market.

In the future, we will further leverage our advantages and expertise in the fields of pharmaceuticals and vaccines, continue to expand footprint in China and step up efforts to introduce innovative healthcare solutions. We will relentlessly improve the accessibility of high-quality medical resources to benefit more Chinese people and contribute to the Healthy China initiative.

A2: Setting the country's 2035 long-term development goals and the 14th Five-Year Plan demonstrates China's commitment to putting people first.

The plan proposes to "step up building Healthy China" and "actively deliver a national strategy to respond to population aging" both of which are highly relevant to the healthcare industry. In addition, the plan proposes to "accelerate digitalization", including to boost the digital development and to integrate digital applications into various industries and areas in the economy.

GSK will actively respond to the Healthy China initiative. In the next five years, we will continue to accelerate new product launch, to explore more indications and to improve access to the innovative medicines. We're looking forward to minimized drug lag versus abroad under evolving policies, to facilitate quick access of Chinese people to the innovative healthcare solutions.

Collaborating with Chinese partners, we aim to develop a health management model that covers disease prevention, treatment and continuous care for the patients. In the meanwhile, we will leverage "Internet plus healthcare" model to tackle the "last mile" of healthcare delivery in China.

A3: In recent years, China has significantly improved its capabilities in scientific and technological innovation. China is now the world's second-largest R&D spender and intellectual property creator. With improving innovation competency, China has caught up with or even overtaken other regions in some cutting-edge fields, thus becoming a technological powerhouse.

China has made impressive achievements in healthcare innovation over the years. Data showed that China led among second-tier players in its contribution to global pharmaceutical R&D in 2020. Particularly, China's share of global R&D pipeline rose to around 14 percent, trailing only the United States.

GSK plays a leading role in advancing medical science and works extensively with Chinese research institutions to empower local healthcare innovation. In 2019, GSK and Innovax signed a partnership agreement to jointly develop and commercialize a new-generation HPV vaccine, leveraging both sides' world-leading expertise in adjuvant systems and innovative antigens to benefit China and the world.

A4: According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the country's GDP in 2020 exceeded the 100-trillion-yuan mark for the first time, up 2.3 percent on a comparable basis.

As the old saying goes, "Only the toughest grass can withstand the strongest wind." China's economy has shown strong resilience, despite the global uncertainty amid rampaging COVID-19. In response to unprecedented challenges in the past year, China managed to post an impressive performance and provided a strong impetus to the global economy.

China has unveiled a series of favorable policies and innovation-friendly measures, demonstrating its determination to embrace the world and to drive economic globalization. I am fully confident about China's future economic growth.

We are elevating our investment in the China market, driven by the favorable policies, optimized business environment and enormous market potential. For instance, in 2020, GSK established a new entity in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone to import and distribute Rx products directly, to better address people's needs for upgraded health services in China.

A5: In November 2020, GSK announced ambitious new environmental sustainability goals in both climate and nature, aiming to have a net zero impact on climate and a net positive impact on nature by 2030.

Underpinning these goals, the company has set new targets across its different businesses, including: 100 percent renewable electricity usage and good water stewardship at all GSK sites and 100 percent of materials sustainably sourced and deforestation free.

We fully support the announcement by China. As a responsible healthcare company, we want to play our full part in protecting and restoring the planet's health, in order to protect and improve people's health.