On July 28, 2019, the day was the 99th countdown to the second China International Import Expo. Workers climbed the exterior of the stadium at the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai). (People's Daily Online/Yang Jianzheng)

Leading pharmaceutical companies said they would introduce more anti-cancer drugs to China through the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) at a support session for the expo's health care exhibition area.

These companies, including Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and Johnson & Johnson said they had already signed up for the second CIIE to bring the latest anti-cancer products to China.

"China is our second-largest market in the world, following the US. We hope our research based on China can serve the globe," said Wu Kun, country lead of Pfizer China Biopharma.

He said China's accelerated approval of new medicines in recent years have significantly boosted the confidence of pharmaceutical companies.

Wu noted that in addition to introducing new drugs, China is also assisting Pfizer's global research and development. For instance, experts from China's Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, who led the research and development of a new Pfizer drug, have made a huge contribution to the drug's global launch.

"We will continue our attention and investment in China," Wu noted.

Zhang Likun, the head of strategy and business planning at MSD China, disclosed that the company will exhibit its high-quality drugs, vaccines, and animal healthcare products and services at a nearly 800-square-meter exhibition booth during the second CIIE, and will help the Chinese government realize its "Healthy China 2030" planning outline.

According to Zhang, MSD entered the Chinese market as early as 1992, and has continued to expand its investment in the country. It has established a Chinese headquarter in Shanghai, as well as a research center in Beijing and a factory in Hangzhou, integrating research, production and operation.

China has grown into a vital part of MSD's global growth strategy, and the company aims to benefit 100 million Chinese by 2021 with two new products launching each year.

Roche Pharmaceuticals, who participated in the first CIIE last year, will upgrade their booth to a size of 700-square meters. In addition, the inheritor of this family business has also confirmed his attendance to this year's CIIE.

Roche Pharmaceuticals will bring multiple new products and technologies in the fields of breast cancer, flu and tumor immunotherapy.