On the afternoon of March 24, Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, met with Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Geoff Martha, Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, and Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and CEO of Corning, respectively.
During his meeting with Cook, Yin emphasized the vast opportunities brought by the rapid development of the electronic information industry. Boasting abundant innovation resources, Beijing hosts nearly a hundred universities and over a thousand research institutes and maintains an R&D intensity of over 6%. The city’s digital economy is thriving with a highly competitive artificial intelligence industry, as Beijing accelerates its efforts to become a global pacesetter in the digital economy. Additionally, factors of production are in efficient circulation, which is supported by convenient transportation infrastructure, including the two world-class aviation hubs, namely Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport. In order to create new opportunities for domestic and foreign companies that invest and develop in Beijing, we remain committed to expanding high-standard opening-up and fostering a market-oriented, law-based, and accessible business climate in keeping with international standards. Apple is encouraged to advance its development by leveraging Beijing’s advantages in the digital economy, deepen exchanges with the city’s research institutes and innovative enterprises, and expand its R&D and business presence in Beijing to explore opportunities for broader and deeper cooperation.
During the meeting with Martha, Yin highlighted Beijing’s commitment to the health of its residents and improvement of its medical and health industry. Designating the medical and health sector as a development priority, Beijing has established a solid foundation for the sector, with high-end manufacturing concentrated in the south and R&D and innovation in the north of the city. With an outstanding innovation ecosystem, Beijing is home to the largest number of national clinical medical research centers and national medical centers in the country, supported by comprehensive policies and a robust intellectual property protection system. Yin hoped that Medtronic will establish a medical innovation center and a medical device production base in Beijing Additionally, he encouraged the company to leverage its investment funds and expand investment footprint in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in conjunction with Beijing’s municipal funds in the sector, so as to promote innovation across the region and deliver more outcomes. He also hoped that Medtronic can further promote digital healthcare to bring more benefits to patients.
When meeting with Weeks, Yin said that high-end manufacturing is a key focus of industrial development in Beijing. Currently, the city has fostered two “trillion-yuan industrial clusters” in new-generation information technology and sci-tech services, as well as several “hundred-billion-yuan industrial clusters” in the fields of smart manufacturing and new materials, among others. We are dedicated to promoting green and low-carbon development through coordinated efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, expand green development, and pursue economic growth. More has been done to adjust industrial structures, energy mix, and lifestyles. Moreover, we are developing high-end manufacturing and bolstering innovation and industrial collaboration within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to create a world-class advanced manufacturing cluster. He hoped that Corning will expand its product market, strengthen technological R&D, and enhance the offering of forward-looking products. Greater emphasis should be placed on improving green and intelligent manufacturing, including increasing investment in technological upgrade, and promoting intelligent management and green electricity in production lines, in order to contribute to green and low-carbon development.
Cook praised Beijing as one of the most innovative cities globally, noting its remarkable achievements in economic development and ecological governance. He expressed willingness to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Beijing in more fields to achieve win-win results. Martha expressed confidence in China’s economic development, saying that Medtronic is ready to expand investment in Beijing and accelerate localization efforts to deliver high-quality medical products and services to more patients. Weeks highlighted Corning’s strong commitment to its Chinese business, pledging to increase investment and expand cooperation areas in Beijing, as well as introduce more new technologies, materials, and products, and jointly explore innovation in cutting-edge fields.
Municipal leaders Mo Gaoyi, Xia Linmao, and Jin Wei attended the meetings respectively.
(Written by Liu Feifei and Fan Junsheng)
