Roundup: Cuba, China plan to accelerate, expand cooperation in biotechnology

File photo shows a meeting of the Cuba-China Joint Working Group on Biotechnology in the city of Havana, capital of Cuba. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)

Cuba and China plan to expand cooperation in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical sector after collaborating in different projects for more than a decade, said authorities from both nations on Thursday at a bilateral conference.

The 10th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Biotechnology, co-chaired by Ren Zhiwu, deputy secretary general of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and Roberto Morales, vice president of Cuba's Council of State, began its deliberations in Havana to increase the scope of this strategic cooperation.

During the meeting, high-level delegations of the two nations and representatives of scientific research centers and companies related to the sector learned about the main breakthroughs of bilateral collaboration since the last meeting in China in 2017.

Ren highlighted growing ties in the field which has promoted "pragmatic and efficient" cooperation and communication between the two sides.

"It has gradually expanded from the initial cooperation of drug production to pharmaceutical research, public health, drug regulation management, bio-agriculture, bioenergy and other areas reflecting the vitality of cooperation between China and Cuba," he said.

He also stressed that progress is evident as currently there are over 20 joint projects, while the same number of companies and institutions have managed to achieve win-win cooperation.

The cooperation has been improved from the transfer of technology to joint development, from the development of trade to cooperation between companies and the creation of joint ventures and from bilateral cooperation to joint exploration of third-party markets, showing strong innovation and vitality, said Ren.

Meanwhile, Eduardo Martinez, president of BioCubaFarma, the island's organization that manages and coordinates national efforts in the biomedical sector to produce medicines and medical equipment, revealed the significance of several milestones in bilateral links in the sector.

"Cuban biotechnology research centers have incorporated very innovative products into the three joint ventures to date, as well as 10 advanced technologies and the sanitary registration of three products have been transferred to China," he said.

Likewise, China has registered and sold to the Caribbean nation more than 100 kinds of medicine and about 500 devices and equipment in the medical-pharmaceutical sector, with prospects to further increase cooperation.

At the opening of the event, Martinez introduced the progress of cooperation with local governments of Chengdu, Guangzhou, Yongzhou and Changchun in China.

He also mentioned the signing of agreements for the creation of high technology centers in China, the progress in joint projects for the development of products and the approval of a preferential credit to BioCubaFarma destined to the construction of plants.

"The new stage imposes new challenges, including maintaining and increasing sales of biotechnology products in China and achieving sanitary registration of BioCubaFarma products that are produced in China today," said Martinez in his opening remarks, calling for "a favorable impact on the health of both peoples, and make an important contribution to the sustainable development of the quality of life and the national economy of both nations."

He also referred to the need to accelerate clinical studies of other innovative products and increase business arrangements that allow extending cooperation in the sector between the two countries.

In this regard, Ren urged to accelerate the expansion of cooperation areas, focusing on exploration in genetic testing, gene editing, cell therapy, high-end medical equipment and agricultural technology.

The bilateral meeting kicked off this Thursday in Havana with working sessions in areas like industry and biotechnology, science and technology, regulatory affairs, agriculture and health. Experts will define new goals in bilateral collaboration for the 2019-2021 period.

Prior to the opening of the meeting, Ren and part of the Chinese delegation held a private meeting with Morales, where they evaluated the cooperation in the sector and its future potential.

Some new bilateral collaboration agreements will be signed at the closing ceremony on Friday while a memorandum of understanding between BioCubaFarma and China's NDRC will be renewed for the next five years.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)