File photo: VCG

SHANGHAI, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Global pharmaceutical companies have been scrambling for booths to showcase their new products and public health solutions at the upcoming 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE).

The exhibition area for medical equipment and healthcare products, measuring 60,000 square meters, has drawn more than 300 exhibitors, of which over 70 are Fortune 500 and industry-leading companies, according to Wang Binjie, assistant to the general manager of the expo's exhibition department.

The exhibition area of a special subsection for public health and epidemic prevention has been expanded from the planned 2,000 square meters to 12,000 square meters.

A number of pharmaceutical giants including MSD, Eli Lilly and Company, AstraZeneca and Roche have signed on to participate in the CIIE for the next three years, Wang said.

The CIIE is more than just a stage for the world debut of new products, said Zhong Luyin, the China communications executive of third-time exhibitor GE Healthcare. It also helps more healthcare products benefit more people.

GE Healthcare's new APEX CT with deep learning image reconstruction has been used in scientific research at Ruijin Hospital of the School of Medicine at Shanghai Jiaotong University since its launch at last year's CIIE, Zhong added.

After setting up its first overseas BI X digital lab and an external innovation hub in Shanghai, Boehringer Ingelheim will launch several new products at this year's CIIE, including replaceable units for its inhaler devices in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as its classical swine fever live vaccine.

"China is not only an important production base and consumer market for Boehringer Ingelheim but also a source of future global innovation," said Yin Yuhan, the company's vice president of corporate communications in China.

The 3rd CIIE will be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai.