This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2022 shows a surgical robot exhibited at the Medtronic booth in the medical equipment and healthcare products exhibition area of the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)
BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The medical equipment and healthcare products exhibition area takes the spotlight at the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) kicking off November 5 in east China's Shanghai.
The number of pavilions for the exhibition has expanded from one in the first CIIE to three in this edition, with more than 350 exhibitors from over 33 countries and regions joining the exhibition, 70-odd of which are the world's top 500 companies and industry leaders.
-- Cutting edge achievements showcased
The number and quality of new medical products and new medical technologies displayed this year have reached a new high.
U.S. pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has participated in the CIIE for the fifth consecutive year, and displayed nearly 200 innovative products at this year's event, with nearly 40 of them first seen worldwide or in China.
At its debut at the CIIE, U.S. firm Alcon engaging in ophthalmic drugs and medical devices exhibited 38 innovative achievements, including cutting-edge eye surgery products, equipment and consumables, and digital experience platform, with 14 of them first seen in China.
Anti-COVID-19 products have become one of the key contents of the exhibition.
At multinational pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca's booth, Evusheld, a neutralizing antibody drug that can be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19, made its debut.
At U.S. sci-tech service firm ThermoFisher Scientific's booth, a sampler demonstrates the process of detecting airborne coronavirus, influenza A virus and influenza B virus. Results can be obtained in 30 minutes using the sampler, compared with at least four hours in a traditional laboratory.
-- Exhibits turning into goods
Many firms' exhibits at the CIIE have become commodities.
At the fifth CIIE, U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation Pfizer Inc. showcased nearly 20 innovative products and medical solutions.
In the past three years, seven of Pfizer's innovative products which have made debuts in China have become commodities, and two of them have been included in the country's national medical insurance catalog, said Pfizer China president Jean-Christophe Pointeau.
The spillover effect of the CIIE also allows exhibitors to become investors to explore the big market in China.
U.S. medical technology firm Medtronic exhibited nine of its achievements in the past four years at the fifth CIIE. Medtronic has participated in the CIIE for five consecutive years, and the past five years have witnessed the company's rapid development in China, which has strengthened its confidence in the Chinese market and determination to transform from an exhibitor to an investor, according to Gu Yushao, senior vice president of Medtronic and president of Medtronic Greater China.
-- Expanding partnership and promoting innovation
As medical field is a highly globalized industry, pharmaceutical enterprises turn to use the CIIE, a bridge of global trade openness and circulation, to expand partnership and cooperation in innovation.
At the booth of U.S. medical equipment company Edwards Lifesciences, a balloon dilated transcatheter aortic valve system was on display, and this is the first and currently the only such product approved for marketing in China.
Benefiting from the strong spillover effect of the CIIE, the product was quickly recognized when it entered the Chinese market two years ago, and so far, it has been adopted by more than 70 institutions in 23 provinces throughout the country, Edwards Lifesciences Greater China general manager Ye Tiancheng said, noting that the company will speed up investment in China and further cooperation in innovation in the future.
German pharmaceutical company Merck signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation on import business in Beijing with Beijing Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau at the fifth CIIE.
Israel-based pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited made its CIIE debut this year, and launched a number of star products at the exhibition. The CIIE is a platform to promote international procurement, people-to-people exchanges, openness and cooperation, and the company hopes to take advantage of the exhibition at the CIIE to accelerate the introduction of high-quality drugs to meet the clinical needs of more Chinese patients, said Theodor Wee, general manager of Greater China of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited.
In addition to foreign-funded enterprises, multinational pharmaceutical enterprises growing up in China also use the CIIE to accelerate the pace of internationalization.
This year, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (Fosun Pharma, 600196.SH, 02196.HK) once again joined hands with overseas member enterprises and global industry partners to participate in the CIIE, and a number of medical devices and innovative drugs achieved the "China debut".
Thanks to the strong spillover effect of the CIIE platform, many innovative products of Fosun Pharma exhibited in the past four years, such as CAR-T cell therapy products, have witnessed accelerated application, Fosun Pharma CEO Wen Deyong said, adding that in the next step, the company will further cooperation with world-renowned pharmaceutical and health enterprises through the CIIE platform.
(Edited by Gu Shanshan with Xinhua Silk Road, gushanshan.1987@163.com)
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