Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone's booth at CIIE 2025.

The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), which runs from November 5 to 10, is currently underway in Shanghai. Attending once again this year is Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (Boao Lecheng), China's only "medical special Zone."

Ahead of the CIIE, the zone's administrative agency had received negotiation and signing invitations from over 30 renowned domestic and international pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including Boston Scientific, Merck, Pfizer, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Roche Diagnostics, Medtronic, and Siemens Healthineers.

During the six-day expo, Boao Lecheng will engage in in-depth discussions with these firms on the implementation of cutting-edge technology, real-world research, and the co-construction of industrial ecosystems as they seek to open a new chapter on cooperation.

What is it about the zone that has these global market leaders clambering to get a seat at the table?

"Unique in China" level of policy openness

Since the establishment of the Boao Lecheng in 2013, China's central government departments has successively granted Boao Lecheng multiple core preferential policies, including the specially licensed import of advanced medical products, functional food, and medical food, all of which can be brought into the zone under the FTP's landmark "zero-tariff" policy, as well as the ability to conduct real-world research on medical products.

Thanks to these two drivers, Boao Lecheng has become the primary channel for international innovative medical products to rapidly enter the Chinese market. To date, the zone has achieved the "first use in China" for over 520 such products.

Promising medical ecosystem another major draw for global giants

To date, over 30 medical institutions have opened their doors in Boao Lecheng, forming a diverse and complementary model of "public + private + international" medical institutions. The zone can provide pharmaceutical and medical device companies with full-chain services, encompassing approvals, registration, market listing, and commercialization, as well as one-stop solutions, creating a broad space for corporate investment and development.

Continuous expansion and cohesion of international cooperation a key factor in enhancing appeal

Boao Lecheng has established in-depth cooperation with over 180 pharmaceutical and medical device companies from 20 countries and regions, including deep partnerships with all top-30 globally ranked pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Cooperation has diversified from introducing individual innovative medicines and devices to areas, such as technological innovation and innovative payment structures, resulting in the active expansion of the zone's "health+" industrial chain.

A representative of Boao Lecheng's administrative body stated that international pharmaceutical and medical device companies choosing Boao Lecheng fully reflects the firm optimism of the overseas market about the development prospects of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone." At this year's CIIE, Boao Lecheng will once again join hands with global partners to explore more possibilities in medical innovation and market expansion."