Fangchenggang in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is stepping up efforts to build an international hub for medical innovation and cooperation, leveraging its role as a national pilot zone for medical opening-up to drive industrial growth and deepen collaboration with partners across Asia and beyond. Huang Jiang, Party Secretary of Fangchenggang, said the city is seizing the opportunity presented by the international medical opening-up pilot zone to expand cooperation in pharmaceuticals, healthcare services, and medical technology. Fangchenggang borders Vietnam and is home to Dongxing Port, a first-class national port and a vital channel for personnel as well as goods between China and Vietnam. It is also a key node in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and serves as a bridge connecting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“As a national-level opening-up platform, our pilot zone has been granted a series of supportive policies that allow us to explore innovative approaches in areas such as drug and medical device approval, cross-border medical care, and industrial development,” Huang said. Over the past seven years Fangchenggang has established a major platform for medical exchanges involving SCO, ASEAN, and Belt and Road countries. It has hosted 14 significant events, including the 2025 International Medical Innovation and Cooperation Forum. The forum attracted leaders, experts and business representatives from 20 countries and international organizations, showcasing 45 top-tier domestic pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Cutting-edge medical scenarios, such as minimally invasive robotic surgeries and the use of rehabilitation robots, drew significant interest from international participants. To date, over 700 guests from 39 SCO and ASEAN countries have visited the pilot zone. Fangchenggang has also conducted exchanges in 15 countries, signed cooperation agreements with four overseas industrial parks, and trained nearly 1,000 foreign medical professionals, helping promote Chinese medical expertise and technology overseas. Industrial cooperation is a growing trend. The city has established a cross-border pharmaceutical procurement platform, attracting over 330 domestic pharmaceutical companies and more than 20 foreign buyers, becoming a key bridge for China-ASEAN medical industry cooperation. It invested nearly CNY8.4 billion in improving medical resources during the 14th Five Year Plan period (2021-25), with the number of hospital beds and healthcare professionals increasing by 75.95% and 60.33%, respectively.
“We are committed to making AI a key breakthrough in the development of the medical pilot zone,” said Huang. More than 200 key enterprises have gathered in the pilot zone, the China Daily reports.
