14th China (Taizhou) International Medical Expo Kicks Off with Focus on Innovation and Health Industry Ecosystem

Editor’s Note: This article is from Taizhou Release. VCBeat has obtained authorization to republish it.

On the afternoon of October 19, the 14th China (Taizhou) International Medical Expo opened at the Exhibition Center of China Medical City. Yang Zhen, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Executive Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (CPWDP), attended the opening ceremony. Jiao Hong, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the CPWDP; Sun Xianze, President of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association; Zhang Shenfeng, Vice President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT); and Zhu Lifan, Secretary of the Taizhou Municipal Party Committee, delivered speeches respectively. Wan Wenhua, Deputy Secretary of the Taizhou Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Taizhou, presided over the opening ceremony.

Jin Li, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Fudan University; Li Xiaokun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Wenzhou Medical University; Zhang Zhiyuan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the National Center for Stomatology; Yang Baofeng, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and pharmacologist; Wang Wei, Academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and President of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine; Xu Huaqin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Provincial People’s Government; relevant officials from national ministries and commissions as well as provincial-level agencies; and municipal leaders including Zhang Yusong and Lu Peimin attended the opening ceremony.

In her address, Jiao Hong pointed out that the pharmaceutical industry is a strategic sector vital to national welfare, economic development, and national security, serving as a crucial foundation for the Healthy China initiative. Taizhou’s pharmaceutical industry has consistently maintained a leading position among prefecture-level cities across China. In recent years, Taizhou has accelerated efforts to consolidate diverse forces driving the high-quality development of the broader health industry, effectively promoting the coordinated advancement of health manufacturing, health services, healthy city development, and health initiatives benefiting the public.

It is hoped that Taizhou will thoroughly implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, uphold the central role of innovation, base itself on self-reliance and self-improvement, further improve the innovation ecosystem, and create a government and business environment that meets international standards; further optimize industrial layout, enhance the level of innovation across industrial and supply chains, and accelerate efforts to scale up and strengthen industries; further accelerate the development of producer services to drive structural upgrading in the pharmaceutical industry and facilitate the transition from old to new growth drivers; further enhance agglomeration levels, improve institutional mechanisms, strengthen platform functions, attract more high-end factor resources, and expedite the creation of a hub for the high-quality development of the general health industry.

Sun Xianze stated that Taizhou is a pilot city for the clustered development of the big health industry within the Yangtze River Economic Belt. With a pharmaceutical production and sales scale leading the country, Taizhou has initially established a development pattern for its big health industry, anchored by China Medical City as the core hub and supported by key enterprises, thereby continuously expanding its influence and driving force.

It is hoped that Taizhou will continuously promote the transformation and upgrading of its traditional pharmaceutical industry, while actively cultivating and expanding the emerging biopharmaceutical sector. By achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, Taizhou aims to enhance its status and competitiveness in the industrial division of labor within Jiangsu Province and across China. The Chinese Pharmaceutical Association will support Taizhou in fully integrating into the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. By combining the Association’s organizational, talent, and technological advantages with Taizhou’s strengths in the pharmaceutical industry, we will make new contributions to the high-quality development of Taizhou’s biopharmaceutical industry.

Zhang Shenfeng stated that the health of the people is the foundation of social civilization and progress, and an important indicator of national prosperity and strength. The holding of the Medical Expo is a significant measure to accelerate the construction of “Healthy China” and promote the supply guarantee and innovation of pharmaceuticals, as well as an important platform for international exchange and cooperation in the pharmaceutical and health industries.

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) will fully leverage its role as a bridge and link to foster exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign business communities, support the successful organization of the Medical Expo, and develop it into an internationalized, specialized, and facilitative platform for trade, investment, and technological exchange and cooperation, thereby becoming a hub connecting high-quality biomedical and big health industry resources both domestically and internationally.

Zhu Lifan, on behalf of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal People’s Government, extended heartfelt gratitude to individuals from all sectors who have long shown concern for and supported Taizhou’s development. He stated that over the years, Taizhou has leveraged the development of China Medical City as a driving force to deeply cultivate the big health industry sectors, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, elderly care, food, and tourism, continuously enriching the developmental connotation of “China Medical City is Taizhou, and Taizhou is China Medical City.”

Today, Taizhou has become an industrial city safeguarding health, an innovative city leading health advancement, and a happy city where people enjoy well-being. Embarking on a new journey, Taizhou will adhere to the strategies of driving urban development through comprehensive industrial chain growth, empowering industry with research-driven innovation, and fostering talent to co-create the future. It is accelerating its efforts to build a globally renowned pharmaceutical hub ranked first in China, striving to establish the “Taizhou Model” for Healthy China.

Wan Wenhua, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Mayor, presided over the opening ceremony.

A signing ceremony was held at the opening ceremony, marking the joint establishment of a partnership between the Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and China Medical City.Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory, China Medical City and Huaxi Haiqi Jointly EstablishedCenter for Nonclinical Drug Research, which will effectively fill the gap in the construction of large-animal biosafety level 3 (P3) laboratories in the Yangtze River Delta region, strengthen a critical link in the pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem of China Medical City, and improve the success rate of innovative drug development.

At the opening ceremony,Unveiling of the iFlytek Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute and the China Medical City Drug Supervision and Service Complex, which will provide strong support for Taizhou’s entry into the smart health and medical industry and enhance the professional service level of China Medical City.

A ceremony was held on-site.Initiative and Inauguration Ceremony of the Biopharmaceutical Industry Supply Chain AllianceThe alliance will pool the strengths of all parties, strive to find the “greatest common divisor” and draw the “largest concentric circle,” jointly promoting the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry.

At the opening ceremony,“Establishment of the National Taizhou Cohort Research Center”Officially launched. The center will collaborate with top domestic universities, research institutes, and leading enterprises to jointly create a global innovation hub for disease prevention and control, as well as for the technological advancement and industrial development of precision medicine.

Prior to the opening ceremony, attending leaders and guests toured the relevant exhibition areas of the Medical Expo.

The three-day Medical Expo is hosted by the China Chamber of International Commerce and organized by the Taizhou Municipal People’s Government and the Jiangsu Provincial Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. It has received strong support from the Chinese Medical Association, the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the China Association for Quality Management of Medicines, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, the Institute of Veterinary Drug Control, as well as the Jiangsu Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Human Resources and Social Security, Department of Commerce, Health Commission, Administration for Market Regulation, Medical Products Administration, and Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

TotalNearly 600 Renowned Domestic and International Enterprises Register to Exhibit, including multinational corporations such as GE and Nestlé, as well as renowned domestic enterprises like Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group, InnoCare Pharma, and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, spanning 17 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

During the conference, there will be10+ Thematic Events, covering major sectors of the broader health industry, including biologics, medical devices, and foods for special medical purposes, to accelerate the convergence of domestic and international pharmaceutical innovation resources toward China Medical City, thereby better supporting the high-quality development of Taizhou’s broader health industry.