The China Development Forum 2026 was held in Beijing from March 22 to 23. During a seminar on "Healthy China 2030" and the development of the health industry, AstraZeneca PLC's Global Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot emphasized that China holds a leading position in technological development and is set to play a more significant role in the global healthcare sector in the coming years. Currently, 25% of global clinical trials are conducted in China, and 30% of the global industry's value flows to the country, a substantial increase from just 1% a decade ago, highlighting China's growing influence in global healthcare.
Soriot attributed these achievements primarily to two factors: sustained investment in science and the relentless efforts of regulatory bodies. He stated that advancing the health industry requires extensive collaboration across the sector, involving hospitals, academic institutions, and government agencies. He particularly stressed the importance of early disease diagnosis, noting that early detection of lung cancer can increase the five-year survival rate to over 85%, while delayed screening significantly reduces survival rates. Globally, 800 million people are affected by kidney disease, with a large number of patients in China. Early diagnosis of kidney disease is simple and low-cost, and early intervention can slow disease progression, demonstrating the critical role of early diagnosis in disease management. Furthermore, digital tools can facilitate early diagnosis, but ensuring diagnostic accessibility and funding availability is also crucial. Investments from multiple sources, including public funds, private equity, and NGOs, can create a financial safety net for patients and drive better outcomes in public health.
Additionally, Soriot outlined AstraZeneca PLC's plans in China. He mentioned that this year's National People's Congress sessions confirmed that the biopharmaceutical industry will further solidify its role as a pillar industry, becoming a core engine for China's high-quality development and economic growth. This presents significant investment opportunities for the company, which aims to build core competitiveness across the entire life sciences value chain, supporting China's high-quality development and infrastructure improvement. In manufacturing, AstraZeneca PLC has established multiple plants in Qingdao and announced plans to advance cell therapy capabilities, build a radioconjugate production base in Guangzhou, and expand cooperation with Hebei Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group in advanced biologics manufacturing. In research and development, the company is collaborating with Tsinghua University's Joint Research Center for Artificial Intelligence to accelerate drug development and commercialization using AI.
Moreover, Soriot highlighted that China has rapidly emerged as a global hub for pharmaceutical innovation. Over the past seven to eight years, its development has been remarkable, and it now stands as the world's second-largest source of innovation, after the United States. The scale and momentum of China's development are sufficient to shape the global healthcare landscape, creating two major innovation poles alongside the U.S., while Europe's influence in this field is gradually declining.
He believes these trends indicate profound transformations underway in China, which is progressively building an integrated healthcare system, moving toward becoming an innovation powerhouse, and continuously enhancing its industrial capabilities. AstraZeneca PLC looks forward to continuing its participation in China's future development and helping the industry achieve new breakthroughs.