Felix Gutsche, Global Senior Vice President of Boehringer Ingelheim, China President & CEO

I am impressed by the determination President Xi demonstrated in his opening speech to "unswervingly open up to a higher level". In recent years, China has made remarkable progress in accelerating the approval of new drugs, continuously improving the business environment and trade facilitation measures. As an international company, we benefit from and believe in open borders, open trade and a level playing field.

The CIIE has become a window to showcase China's opening-up, and the spillover effect is significant. We participate in the CIIE for the third consecutive year and our innovative exhibits have turned into commercial products in an accelerated way. With the spillover effect, Boehringer Ingelheim has also evolved into an investor on top of an exhibitor.

At this year's CIIE, we will stage the global and Asia debuts of multiple innovative products and services. We will also announce an investment plan in the field of stroke rehabilitation in western China. This project is a strategic partnership we've clinched via the CIIE platform.

The China market is one of Boehringer Ingelheim's key growth engines. The successful CIIE and the strategic positioning on reform and opening-up at a higher level have further strengthened our confidence in increasing investment in the China market.