The 2^nd Conference of Global Health Forum of Boao Forum for Asia was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China from June 1-4, 2021. At the invitation of the Conference and China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products, Fang Xiaoliang, General Manager of Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co., Ltd. (Orient Gene), participated in a series of events of the Conference and the on-site discussion of the Sub-Forum on “International Cooperation in Combating COVID-19 and High-quality Development Pathway of the Industry” hosted by Meng Dongping, Secretary of the CPC Committee of China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products (hereinafter referred to as “CCCMHPIE”).

The Conference was held against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 20^th anniversary of Boao Forum for Asia. In spite of the impact from the pandemic, it still attracted wide attention at home and abroad. More than 2,880 guests from 40 countries and regions attended the Conference online and offline, including dignitaries from many countries, heads of international organizations and institutions, 8 academicians and hundreds of experts and scholars from home and abroad.

Sub-forum Scene

With the theme of “Health is the Top Priority – In the 2030s with Sustainable Development”, through 33 sub-forums and 17 important events, the Global Health Forum conducted extensive and in-depth exchanges on major public health issues such as health for all, policies and systems, medical innovation, international cooperation, digital economy, development of traditional Chinese medicine, and epidemic containment.

At the invitation of the Conference, CCCMHPIE sponsored the Sub-Forum on “International Cooperation in Combating COVID-19 and High-quality Development Pathway of the Industry”, which was co-sponsored by Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co., Ltd., Allmed Medical Products Co., Ltd. and Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd. The sub-forum focused on international cooperation in public health in the COVID-19 era. Meng Dongping, Secretary of the CPC Committee of CCCMHPIE, and Liu Jingqi, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology and International Cooperation of the National Medical Products Administration, delivered opening speeches successively. Xu Chao, Deputy General Manager of Mindray (Shenzhen) Healthcare Global Marketing System, delivered an introductory speech. During the guest discussion session, Fang Xiaoliang, representative of Qingdao Food and Drug Administration, General Manager of Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co., Ltd., Cui Jinhai, Chairman of Allmed Medical Products Co., Ltd., Cao Lin, Chairman of Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., and Xu Chao, Deputy General Manager of Mindray (Shenzhen) Healthcare Global Marketing System, participated in the on-site discussion. From a professional, multi-level and multi-dimensional perspective, they conducted profound and pragmatic exchanges and discussions on international cooperation in the medical and health industry under the current situation, medical regulatory requirements, sustainable development, innovation, the way of high-quality development of the industry and other hot issues. All the participants in the discussion were first-line witnesses of the fight against COVID-19. They shared their experiences, expressed their views, made comments and found out problems, and touched on the focus topics from time to time, which aroused warm response and resonance from the audience.

Meng Dongping, Secretary of the CPC Committee of CCCMHPIE, hosted the Conference and delivered an opening speech

Secretary Meng Dongping, said in her opening speech, COVID-19 is the ultimate test of the global public health defense system. As a major producer of materials for epidemic containment, China assumed its responsibilities during the epidemic period and made important contributions to the protection of life and health, highlighting the strength and potential of the industry. She said, COVID-19 is still spreading around the world. It is the responsibility and mission of people in the pharmaceutical industry to tackle the harm of the pandemic to people’s health and its impact on the economy, which requires us to seriously think about it and take action. From the construction of governance system, arrangements of policies and systems, the guarantee of the supply of medical epidemic containment materials, to the maintenance of the stability and sustainability of the industrial chain, all of them are absolutely necessary. Secretary Meng introduced the work carried out by CCCMHPIE during the epidemic period, especially the connection between the domestic and international markets for epidemic containment materials, and the examination of the white list of epidemic containment materials with export qualification delivered by the Ministry of Commerce, stressing that in the context of independent and complicated quality management systems and technical standards of various countries, Chinese enterprises need to set up international thinking, attach importance to rules and standards, keep making innovation, consolidate internal strength and enhance professional competence in order to achieve international development. She introduced the reform achievements of China’s medical regulatory system in recent years as well as the philosophy and thinking of government governance, which has greatly stimulated social productivity and provided policy vitality for the high-quality development of the industry.

Address by Liu Jingqi, Deputy Director, National Medical Products Administration

Liu Jingqi, Deputy Director of the National Medical Products Administration, said in the speech, the National Medical Products Administration has consistently adhered to the principle of putting people first and life first, strictly implemented, strictly implemented the “four most stringent” requirements, insisted on reform and innovation, and actively promoted the development of the pharmaceutical industry in China and globally. After the outbreak of COVID-19, in order to adapt to the needs of the globalization of drug regulation, the National Medical Products Administration has continuously optimized its work process, and centralized the strength of drug administration to demonstrate China’s speed. He pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic shows that the common disaster faced by mankind can be solved only when various countries around the world work together, and the regulators of various countries should strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and work with the industry to build a human health community. International cooperation in combating COVID-19 and high-quality development of the industry require multi-party cooperation. The National Medical Products Administration is willing to work with all sectors of society to ensure the safety of medicines and medical devices for public use, promote high-quality development of the pharmaceutical industry, and help China move forward from a big country in the pharmaceutical industry to a powerful country in the pharmaceutical industry.

Address by Xu Chao, Deputy General Manager, Mindray (Shenzhen) Healthcare Global Marketing System

In his introductory speech, Xu Chao, Deputy General Manager, reviewed Mindray’s work and achievements in combating COVID-19 in China and supporting the global fight against it. He said, in the post-COVID-19 era, China’s medical industry should take the “double-cycle” road. For internal cycle, internal skills should be practiced well. The core technologies and key components should be autonomous and controllable. At present, some core businesses have entered the original stage. For external cycle, a steady approach should be taken. Through high-quality products and services, it should actively participate in global competition and meet the stringent requirements of high-end markets. Enterprises can increase the integration of global resources with the help of capital.

During the roundtable discussion, Secretary Meng Dongping had an in-depth discussion with the guests on five issues, namely, the stable, controllable and sustainable development of the industrial chain, the connection of regulatory policies and domestic and foreign markets, the opportunities and pathways of enterprises in the international cooperation against COVID-19, innovation and high-quality industrial development, the formulation of international standards and the establishment of the system. Based on their own experience in combating COVID-19, the five guests reflected on policy regulation, industry in-depth cultivation, market layout, overseas market development, enterprises’ responsibility in the stability of the industrial chain, the transcendence of international standard technical barriers and compliance with the double cycle trend at home and abroad, and the continuous pursuit of innovation and high-quality development, which has made the path of sustainable development of China’s medical and health industry unblocked.

Address by Fang Xiaoliang, General Manager, Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co., Ltd.

Fang Xiaoliang, General Manager, said that Orient Gene mainly produces rapid diagnosis and nucleic acid detection reagent products, which are exported to more than 100 countries and regions in Europe, America, the Middle East, Asia, etc. With the support of first-class scientific team, the company enjoys a good reputation at home and abroad in terms of product formula technology, production process design and product quality control. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Orient Gene has rapidly developed a number of 2019-nCoV detection products. Benefiting from the white list audit system of epidemic containment materials approved by CCCMHPIE, the company’s 2019-nCoV series detection products, especially the 2019-nCoV antibody/antigen detection reagents, have been welcomed by the UK, Germany, France and other countries, and the company has received a large number of overseas orders.

Guests’ group photo taken to mark the occasion