In addition, six of the indication applications had been granted priority review by the National Medical Products Administration, which led to accelerated review and approval.

According to Van Acker, government officials looked closely into what was being presented in each and every pharma and medical devices company during the CIIE. Authorities' high level of attention was a vote of confidence for multinational corporations like MSD to stay firmly rooted in China.

"There are two types of messages we want to stress: Around patients and around Chinese patients," she said. "The more stable, more conducive the environment is to bring our innovations, the better it is for everyone involved, specifically for the patients here in China."

Like many expats, Van Acker can give an almost endless list of reasons for adoring her life in Shanghai. She said the city offers the perfect blend of East and West, a ubiquitous number of coffee shops at street corners, and a glitzy array of global gastronomy that pampers her taste buds.

But one quality stands out above the others: A rules-based business environment that encourages innovation and allows science-based industries to flourish.

"MSD welcomes China's continued efforts to reform and develop its foreign investment environment while addressing the concerns of foreign companies operating in China," she said.

"Policies that reward innovation and protect research conducted worldwide create opportunities for greater investment."

China is frequently in the top five destinations for global pharmaceutical R&D and for publishing academic research.

These qualities highlight the country's rich academic innovation resources and medical talents, who are key to the sustainable development of multinational companies in China. Today, MSD China has a younger and more vibrant workforce, with nearly half of talents born after 1990. Such a dynamic motivates Van Acker to bring in three decades of global expertise and experience while anchoring very much in the Chinese needs.

"Coming back to China is certainly one of my aspirations," she said. "I don't look Chinese, but I share some of the local mindsets, which include having a forward-looking approach."