On the morning of July 19, Cai Qi, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, met with Chris Toth, CEO of Varian Medical Systems via video.

Cai Qi briefed Toth on how Beijing was balancing epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development. He pointed out that furthering reform and increasing openness was an important measure to vigorously promote the development of the capital in the new era. Beijing will develop an open economy of higher standards, ease foreign investment access, and further liberalize and facilitate investment and trade, offering more opportunities and greater space for development to Beijing-based enterprises including foreign-invested ones. Cai hoped that Varian could consolidate its development in Beijing, make good use of the policies such as the "Two Zones" development, and continue to increase investment in R&D and production. The company was expected to take the development of the Varian Global Innovation Center as an opportunity to make full use of scientific and technological resources in Beijing and strengthen cooperation with tech firms in the city. Varian was also expected to coordinate efforts for technological research and development, incubation, mass production, and clinical application with its Beijing headquarters as the core to help consolidate the industrial and supply chains across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Beijing will actively support Varian's development in the city with a better business environment and tailored services.

Chris Toth hailed Beijing's achievements in coordinating epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development. He thanked Beijing for its strong support in Varian's 15-year development in the city. He promised that the company would introduce new technologies and products into China, continue to expand production capacity, increase investment in R&D, and strengthen localized innovation. Based in Beijing, Varian will be oriented toward China and also serve the world.

Municipal leaders Jin Wei and Zhao Lei also attended the meeting.

(Reporters: Liu Feifei, Wu Hongli)