(Yicai) July 29 -- The big Chinese market and innovation ecosystem are attracting more and more industry giants from around the world to exhibit their products and seek new opportunities at the China International Import Expo, which opens in about 100 days.

The CIIE's value philosophy "Inspire Innovation, Foster Collaboration, Connect the Future" is highly aligned with CSL Behring's development strategy in China, Wang Yu, general manager of the US biotech firm's country arm, told Yicai. The company looks forward to leveraging the event, in which it will take part for the first time, as a bridge to enable its innovation achievements to benefit more rare disease and critically ill patients, she noted.

"The CIIE is not only an excellent platform to gain insights into China, understand the country, and ultimately integrate into it, but also brings together government, industry, academic, and innovation resources, creating unique opportunities for cooperation among all parties," Wang stressed.

"China has a super large market, a complete supply chain system, and an active innovation ecosystem," Meg Luo, head of communications for China and North Asia at Dutch paint maker AkzoNobel, said to Yicai. "We highly value the strong resilience shown by the Chinese economy, and cherish the unlimited potential and active innovation ecosystem of this huge market."

AkzoNobel decided to participate in this year's CIIE as an exhibitor for the first time based on this long-term confidence, Luo pointed out.

CSL Behring has been accelerating the introduction of more global innovative therapies to China in recent years, Wang noted, adding that the CIIE can help the company commercialize the research and development innovations and achievements in the country faster to open up a new business development phase. The firm has also secured a spot to participate in next year's CIIE in advance, she said.

The Chinese market is transforming from a manufacturing ground to an innovation hub and is becoming an indispensable part for multinationals to enhance their global competitiveness and resilience.

China's innovative drug R&D pipelines accounted for about 30 percent of the world's total last year, while its contribution to global early clinical candidate projects had approached or even exceeded 50 percent in the next-generation innovative therapies area, according to Wang.

The structural transformation is driving CSL Behring to shift its China focus from "market to innovation opportunities," she noted. The firm is committed to bringing cutting-edge therapies to China and deeply connecting with local upstream and downstream partners, including hospitals, top research institutions, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence firms, she noted.

AkzoNobel also regards China as a key innovation hub in its global layout, Luo said. China is its largest single market in the world and one of the most important strategic ones, with all of the company's local business segments showing strong growth momentum last year, contributing nearly 13 percent of global sales, Luo added.

The ninth CIIE, to be held from Nov. 5 to 10, has seen over 1,200 companies from 99 countries and regions sign up so far, up more than 100 from the same period last year, the organizer said on July 27. In addition, the contracted exhibition area has exceeded 340,000 square meters, reaching 95 percent of the target.

French pharmaceutical firm Pierre Fabre, Singapore's Perennial Holdings, which set up the first wholly foreign-owned tertiary general hospital in China, US fashion giant Ralph Lauren, world-leading steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal, and well-known Belgian chocolate producer Godiva are among other firms that will take part in their first CIIE this year.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev