Party Secretary Li meets Royal Philips CEO

Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang met Frans van Houten, chairman and CEO of Royal Philips, in Shanghai yesterday.

“Shanghai is accelerating the construction of an international economic, finance, trade, shipping and scientific innovation center in Shanghai according to the spirit of the important instructions by President Xi Jinping on the work of Shanghai,” Li said. As the window of reform and opening up in China, Shanghai is devoted to pushing forward opening up at a higher level, implementing an open policy more forcefully, building a better environment, and creating a stronger opening-up platform, he added.

Li noted: “We will serve Chinese and foreign enterprises in Shanghai better and promote fair competition among various enterprises with a rule-of-law business environment and convenience according to international practices. Biomedicine is one of the main directions for Shanghai to develop strategic emerging industries. Philips has successfully transformed into a health technology company. Philips is welcome to put more innovative products, research and development projects and high-end manufacturing projects that meet the needs of the Chinese market in Shanghai, help Shanghai to accelerate the construction of a medical center in Asia, better promote the development of the biomedical industry and benefit a vast number of patients.”

Van Houten, in his turn, said that it has been almost a century since Philips entered the China market. It has enjoyed rapid development in China in recent years, partly thanks to the improving business environment in Shanghai. The Dutch firm will focus on promoting the localization development strategy, further increase cooperation with Shanghai, meet the needs of the Chinese market more accurately, and strive to contribute more to the development of the health industry in China, he added.

City leader Zhuge Yujie also attended the meeting.