On the afternoon of January 18, 2024, Song Ruilin, Executive President of China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA), met with Tashpulatov Farhodjon, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, conducting in-depth discussions on various topics, including the establishment of a China-Uzbekistan drug regulatory exchange mechanism, the Drug List Mechanism, and enhancing cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry between China and Uzbekistan.

Meeting

Executive President Song Ruilin extended a warm welcome to Tashpulatov Farhodjon and the delegation and expressed high appreciation for the significant contributions of the MOH of the Republic of Uzbekistan in advancing China-Uzbekistan pharmaceutical cooperation and jointly building a global community of health for all. He said that China and Uzbekistan enjoyed a long-standing history of friendly exchanges under a comprehensive strategic partnership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries cooperated extensively in the fields of vaccines and antiviral drugs, achieving significant results. Utilizing established platforms such as the China-Uzbekistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on New Drug, both countries have promoted scientific research and deepened practical cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry. In the past two years, PhIRDA has engaged in various pragmatic cooperation with relevant departments in Uzbekistan, including the MOH and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. Many representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in China, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and other relevant departments of the Republic of Uzbekistan participated in important conferences hosted by PhIRDA including the “China BioMed Innovation and Investment Conference (CBIIC)” and the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Pharmaceutical Cooperation Development Conference”. Both parties reached consensus on establishing a regular dialogue mechanism and fostering a close cooperative relationship. It is opportune and timely for the forthcoming steps in practical collaboration. In 2024, PhIRDA will organize a high-level pharmaceutical delegation to visit Uzbekistan. The delegation will engage in meetings with relevant departments, including the MOH and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and conduct on-site visits to the local pharmaceutical industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, this year China will assume the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. PhIRDA will continue to host the Third Shanghai Cooperation Organization Pharmaceutical Cooperation Development Conference (referred to as the “Conference”). PhIRDA extends an invitation to the MOH of Uzbekistan to actively participate in the Conference, leveraging the platform under the SCO framework, to contribute significantly to elevating the level of public healthcare security and enhancing the well-being of people.

Deputy Minister Tashpulatov Farhodjon spoke highly of the practical achievements of the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Pharmaceutical Cooperation Development Conference” and expressed a strong willingness to actively participate in the third Conference and organized high-quality pharmaceutical companies from Uzbekistan to attend, to effectively promote exchanges and cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry between the two countries. Meanwhile, he welcomed PhIRDA delegation to visit Uzbekistan. He expressed the hope that high-quality innovative drugs from China would enter the Uzbekistan market, benefiting a larger number of local patients. Uzbekistan would like to deepen cooperation with China in areas such as the localization of medical products, digitalization of healthcare systems, and the facilitation of drug regulatory approval processes. The MOH of Uzbekistan would like to establish a regular mechanism of cooperation and exchanges to jointly build a platform for the government departments and the industry of both countries, thereby making substantial contributions to deepening China-Uzbekistan cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry.

Representatives from PhIRDA’s members, including Luye Life Sciences Group Ltd., BeiGene, Ascentage Pharma, and Infervision Medical Technology Ltd., attended the meeting. They respectively introduced their companies and products, outlined their business operations and cooperation intentions in Uzbekistan, plan and challenges encountered in Uzbekistan. Tashpulatov Farhodjon expressed a strong interest in cooperation with those companies with innovative products and listened to the details concerning product access, commercialization models, and operating concerns. He said that the government and the MOH of the Republic of Uzbekistan would like to listen to the suggestions from China’s companies, make efforts to provide policy support. Relevant departments would like to work jointly with PhIRDA and China’s pharmaceutical innovative companies to promote the practical cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry. He also said that, collective efforts should be made to make 2024 a landmark year for deepening cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry between China and Uzbekistan.

Attendees included Uktam Rustamov, Head of International Affairs of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Gapparov Farruk, Head of Public Private Partnership Department of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Feng Lan, Secretary-General of PhIRDA, Lu Xiaoti, Deputy Secretary-General of PhIRDA, Elizabeth Xu, President of Infervision Medical Technology Ltd., Qi Yan, Senior Vice President of BeiGene, Tian Hong, Senior Vice President of Ascentage Pharma, and Ge Yinkai, General Manager of Uzbekistan Branch of Luye Life Sciences Group Ltd..

Executive President Song Ruilin exchanges souvenirs with Deputy Minister Tashpulatov Farhodjon

Group Photo