Minister meets with pharma execs at roundtable

China will place a higher premium on attracting foreign investment and foster a more enabling business climate on a sustained basis, the country's minister of commerce said while presiding over a roundtable with a dozen foreign pharmaceutical enterprises on Wednesday.

Minister Wang Wentao listened to information about the business operation of 12 foreign pharmaceutical firms such as Bayer, Novo Nordisk, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer in China and solicited their demands and suggestions during the symposium.

The country is forging ahead on the Chinese path to modernization and remains firm in advancing high-level opening-up, which will bring more development opportunities for foreign companies, Wang said.

The ministry, on top of the existing regular communication mechanism, will put in place the roundtable mechanism to enable a better exchange of ideas with foreign enterprises.

It will also hold roundtables on a regular basis, further broaden channels to collect problems and suggestions raised by foreign enterprises and address their concerns in a timely manner to facilitate their long-term and stable growth in China, Wang added.

The attending companies expressed confidence in China's economic development prospects and their willingness to strengthen communication with departments through channels like the roundtable.

They discussed their business situation and problems facing foreign investment in the pharmaceutical industry, and put forward 25 specific suggestions and recommendations.