China Medical City in Taizhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/China Medical City]

Jiang Dongdong, Party secretary of Taizhou, Jiangsu province, met with a delegation from AstraZeneca on March 9 to discuss expanding cooperation in the biopharmaceutical sector.

Jiang highlighted AstraZeneca as a key partner and a flagship name in Taizhou's biopharma industry. He emphasized that the city has long prioritized this sector as a pillar of its industrial development.

Jiang expressed his hope that AstraZeneca would consider Taizhou a major base for its investment plans in China and as a preferred location in its global production network. He also pledged ongoing government support, including policy facilitation and services related to green and low-carbon transformation, to foster a business-friendly environment.

Pam Cheng, executive vice-president of AstraZeneca and head of global operations and IT, as well as chief sustainability officer, said the company's Taizhou site has evolved from serving the domestic market to supplying the global market. She highlighted its strong manufacturing capabilities, skilled workforce and solid business performance, noting that its role in the company's global supply chain continues to grow as new products are introduced and capacity expands.

Another company representative said AstraZeneca hopes to receive continued support from local authorities, particularly in product approval processes. The company also plans to apply artificial intelligence and advanced technologies further to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of its Taizhou production base within its global network.