A European pharmaceutical firm looks forward to CIIE

Hoffmann-La Roche's chair, Christoph Franz, is due to attend the event. [Photo: China Plus]

The head of a European pharmaceutical firm is putting in its final preparations for the forthcoming China International Import Expo in Shanghai this coming month.

Hoffmann-La Roche will be one of the largest exhibitors at the event.

The company's chair, Christoph Franz, is due to attend the event.

He says it's impressive that more than 28-hundred companies from around the world will be gathered together in Shanghai, suggesting the scope of the Expo is going to be significant for both his Swiss-based firm, as well as the global medical industry.

"I think in times when we see that in some parts of the world, trade barriers are not coming down, but also going up. It is important to underline that international trade is of upmost importance for positive development of the world, and the first Chinese International Import Export exhibition is a whole mark to underline this, in this sense it is really an event where we can see mutual benefits and win- win relationships between China and its trade and investment partners."

Christoph Franz says Hoffman-La Roche intends to unveil some of its latest diagnostic equipment at the event, some of which will have been produced at their new diagnostic production base in nearby Suzhou.

"It is our intention to give a clear signal that China and Shanghai is among our most strategic centers throughout the world and we believe that gatherings like the CIIE help grow the global innovation and we want to be part of it."

Franz notes that Hoffman La-Roche has only established research centers in 5 different countries, with China being one of them.

He says not only is China a major market for his company's products, but also an important innovation center for the world.

"And we see more and more top talents also scientific talents and this has encouraged Roche to deepen our relationship. Shanghai today is home to one of our major global strategic development centers and Roche will continue to progress the high medical need for patients in China around the world. I believe strongly that China and its focus on science and technology that is very successful because of the huge reservoir of talent in the country. And Roche has identified this potential that we believe it could benefit the company, and the other way around, we believe that we can benefit also to China by strengthening the leading innovation helps in the world."

Christoph Franz says Hoffman-La Roche remains confident in China's future prospects, as well as his company's future in the country, with the company having been in the Chinese market since 1926.

He notes that over the past five years, Hoffman-La Roche has invested over 8 billion yuan in its production base in Suzhou, as well as its research center in Shanghai.

"I think the best proof that we are confident is the fact that we have been for more than 90 years in the country, and we have not only seen easy and nice times. We have also seen very difficult times in China, but we believe that since we are loyalty to the country, and we have been stayed in this country all the time, and we are very happy that we have the time."