Officials announce during a press conference held on June 17 that Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone has welcomed a batch of 15 preferential policies aimed at deepening reform and innovation. [Photo by Yang Chen/China News Service]

Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has welcomed a batch of 15 new preferential policies designed to boost reform and innovation, officials announced during a press conference on June 17.

The policies, released by 11 departments including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Health Commission, cover various areas, from boosting international medical cooperation and the development of leading industries to supporting the construction of major platforms. 

The initiative to set up the Fangchenggang International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone was put forward during the 19th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in June 2019. Following two years' construction, the zone has now achieved some early results.

Li Yongqiang, deputy head of the Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that the zone has lured a host of national industrial service platforms, such as China's first food safety and nutrition innovation platform. Three leading industries in the zone have taken initial shape, namely laboratory animal breeding, preclinical medical research and traditional medicine development.

Huang Wenchuan, deputy head of the Development and Reform Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that the new preferential policies can effectively promote communication and cooperation between the zone and other parties such as ASEAN, SCO and Belt and Road countries in areas spanning public health, traditional medicine, medical rescue, research and talent cultivation.