On the afternoon of March 2, 2021, Song Ruilin, Executive President of China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA), met with Zheng Wei, General-Secretary of The Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation Committee (GNFCC) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Both sides had a deep and fruitful communication on facilitating the SCO members’ cooperation on healthcare and pharmaceutical fields, promoting the establishment of mode of drug regulatory cooperation and mutual recognition, etc. Wu Xiaobin, Vice President of PhIRDA, Feng Lan, Secretary General of PhIRDA, Ruan Xinxin, Deputy Director of International Affairs of PhIRDA and other participants attended the meeting.

President Song expressed that, under the guidance of the National Innovation-driven Development Strategy, China's pharmaceutical innovation capacity has been significantly improved and China's pharmaceutical innovation has stepped into the second tier in global market. So far, 4 vaccines independently developed by China have been approved and conditionally approved, and will serve as global public goods, contributing to the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries. Under the unprecedented responsibilities, China's pharmaceutical industry is facing great opportunities and challenges. China should actively promote the establishment of a balanced and efficient mode of international drug regulatory cooperation and mutual recognition among SCO members, establish a mutual recognition mechanism for market access including clinical trials, registration and approval from the policy-making level, give full play to the advantages of high quality and reasonable price of innovative drugs in China, and accelerate the overseas promotion and internationalization of China's pharmaceutical innovative products.

Secretary-General Zheng Wei introduced the GNFCC’s work on promoting the cooperation in public diplomacy, healthcare, pharmaceutical and other fields. Secretary-General Zheng noted that, in implementing the General Secretary Xi Jinping's call on combating COVID -19 and building a global health community, GNFCC is willing to work with PhIRDA to jointly promote the establishment of a pharmaceutical innovation cooperation mechanism within the SCO framework and effectively facilitate the cooperation between China and SCO members. Both sides will effectively promote bilateral and multilateral pharmaceutical cooperation and exchanges between China and SCO members, and provide supports in safeguarding the safety of people's lives and health.

SCO GNFCC Secretary-General Zheng Wei (Second from the Left)

About GNFCC

In September 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation Committee (GNFCC) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the 13^th Meeting of the Council of the Heads of the Member States of the SCO in Bishkek. As a non-profit non-governmental organization registered in the Ministry of Civil Affairs and working under the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GNFCC is committed to promoting exchanges and cooperation between the academic or cultural institutions, social organizations and business community among the SCO members, so as to carry forward the “Shanghai Spirit”, promote the Belt and Road Initiative and take more steps toward building a community with a shared future for SCO.