Ding Dawei, the Party chief of Nantong, Jiangsu province, had a meeting with a delegation headed by Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, the family board chairman of the German Merck Group, on March 3.

Merck Group is a leading pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer from Germany with a history of over 340 years. It is also one of the first multinational enterprises approved to produce essential drugs in China by the central government.

The delegation came to the city to inspect the construction of its new plant in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area. The project, with the first-stage investment of $170 million, will become the second largest production base of the group in the world and open in 2017.It will produce medicine for treating diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and thyroid disorders.

Ding addressed the guests to welcome them, wishing success for the project. He briefed the delegation members about the development and achievements by the city and promised the government would continue to support the China-Europe cooperation.

The chairman said he was satisfied with the progress the project recorded and expressed appreciation for the government support. He said he hopes to keep a long-term cooperation with the city and would give priority to Nantong as a location for more Merck projects in future.