On the afternoon of September 28, Chen Jining, Mayor of Beijing, met with Kieran Murphy, CEO of GE Healthcare via video links.

Chen introduced what Beijing has done to expand opening-up and boost the development of the healthcare industry. He said, with the inauguration of the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Beijing has become China's only city to develop both a national integrated demonstration zone for greater openness in the services sector and a free trade zone, which creates an enabling policy environment for further opening-up of the city. The healthcare industry is one of the key high-end, precision and sophisticated industries for Beijing. The city will capitalize on its resources and advantages in basic research and clinical medicine to promote the development of research-oriented wards and continuously improve the development quality and performance of the healthcare industry. It will foster a market-oriented, world-class business environment underpinned by a sound legal framework, deepen healthcare reform, and create a sound institutional and market environment for the development of the healthcare industry. Chen hoped that GE Healthcare could leverage its advantages in products, technologies and management to increase its production capacity and R&D of cutting-edge medical equipment in the city, participate in the construction of smart hospitals through in-depth cooperation with local AI enterprises, and play a more active role in the development of the healthcare industry in Beijing.

Murphy spoke highly of Beijing's achievements in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with social and economic development and thanked the city for supporting the production and operation of GE Healthcare's facilities in Beijing. He pledged to increase investments in Beijing and strengthen cooperation with the city in product R&D and application, construction of smart hospitals, among other areas.

Jin Wei, Secretary-General of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, also attended the meeting.

(Reporter: Yang Qi)