(Yicai Global) May 12 -- Amid the Covid-19 resurgence in China, Shanghai-based global drug and medical device giants AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific and 3M have kept up operations to ensure supplies and expressed optimism about development opportunities in the country.

Throughout Shanghai’s lockdown, Boston Scientific has never halted its operations in the country as has tried to meet the needs of non-Covid-19 patients, according to Zhang Jun, president of the US medical devices company in China.

With government assistance, the company helped its suppliers apply for permits for staff and vehicles in readiness for the resumption of work and production, he added.

As of May 7, US mask maker 3M’s four factories in Shanghai were all working in closed-loop bubbles, and its China head expressed the hope of ramping up output this month and next to make up for the impact of the pandemic in April.

“After the past 38 years of investment here, China has become an important strategic market for 3M’s global development,” the person said.

Despite the Shanghai outbreak, AstraZeneca’s digital platform and tools have guaranteed normal operations, thereby ensuring people have access to drugs and medical services.

In addition, the British-Swedish drugmaker handed its Covid-19 vaccine technology to Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products for free and procured active ingredients for the vaccine from WuXi Biologics, according to Leon Wang, global executive vice president and international trade head at AstraZeneca China.

The company will continue to boost its investment in Shanghai. “Although the Covid-19 pandemic has seriously affected the world, China’s economy is still recovering and has become an important stabilizer and power source for global development,” Wang said.

Editor: Peter Thomas