Danaher Executive Wei Chunyan Urges China to Consider Joining the Ottawa Group's Trade and Health Initiative

On September 4, 2021, the "Beijing Two Zones Development and Corporate Globalization Forum" (the 8th CCG Chinese Enterprises Globalization Forum) under the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), co-hosted by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and the Beijing "Two Zones" Office, was held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. Wei Chunyan, Vice President of China Government Affairs at Danaher Corporation, attended and delivered a speech at the sub-forum themed "New Demands in Healthcare, Elderly Care, and Epidemic Prevention, and New Applications of Digital Technology."

Wei Chunyan stated that as medical technology enterprises, whether pharmaceutical companies or high-tech firms in biotechnology, life sciences, and medical diagnostics, all shoulder significant responsibilities. Danaher is a medical technology company with a history of just over 30 years, originally established through mergers and acquisitions. Its operations encompass four major business segments: Life Sciences, Medical Diagnostics, Environmental Solutions, and Product Identification. Currently, as the global focus shifts from the initial emergency supply of anti-epidemic materials to the phase of pandemic normalization, vaccines remain a critical priority for the global healthcare community and even for heads of state worldwide.

Two minor suggestions:

First, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the highly uncertain landscape of globalization, global medical technology companies, represented by Danaher, continue to remain optimistic about the Chinese market. To ensure supply chain security, they will further increase their investments in China, encompassing R&D, manufacturing, and the continued localization of supply chains. In this process, against the backdrop of the new round of reform and opening-up and high-level openness, we hope to engage in more constructive exchanges with the Chinese government on behalf of the industry regarding institutional frameworks, to secure greater support for intellectual property protection, biosafety, and cross-border data flows.

Second, medical-related products contribute to global human well-being. Particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, China is not yet a member of the WTO Pharmaceutical Agreement. We particularly hope that, as the pandemic moves toward normalization, COVID-19-related medical supplies and products can actively explore participation in the Trade and Health Initiative advocated by the Ottawa Group. Advanced medical technologies transcend national borders. Through broader tariff reductions, we can further promote and eliminate trade barriers, especially those related to COVID-19. Whether vaccines or other medical products, such measures will better serve the health and well-being of humanity worldwide.

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Managing Editor: Li Ang