Lei Haichao, minister of China's National Health Commission, met with a delegation led by Frédéric Oudéa, chairman of the board of directors of Sanofi, a French healthcare company, in Beijing on Dec 2.

Lei gave an introduction to the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee at the meeting, noting that the plenum has made a systematic plan for deepening medical reform and highlighted the implementation of a health-first strategy. This has created opportunities for foreign pharmaceutical enterprises to develop in China, he added.

China and France have achieved significant cooperation results in the prevention and control of chronic diseases, infectious diseases, as well as pharmaceutical research and development innovation, he said, adding that China looks forward to working with France to strengthen cooperation in the medical management, research and talent training.

With current advantages of political stability, steady economic growth, optimized business environment and abundant high-quality human resources, China hopes that Sanofi will actively participate in the high-quality development of China's health sector and expand the depth and breadth of China-France health cooperation, he said.

Frédéric Oudéa gave an overview of the development and future planning of Sanofi in China. He said that Sanofi is full of confidence in China's development prospects and will continue to be committed to providing high-quality and innovative drugs, vaccines and health products to the Chinese market.