Beijing hosted on May 16 the launch ceremony for the China (Tonglu, Hangzhou) International Pilot Zone of Life Sciences and Healthcare Industry, an event marking the establishment of the first national pilot zone for life sciences and the healthcare industry in the Yangtze River Delta.

Jointly built by the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, the People's Government of Tonglu County in Hangzhou and Hangzhou Aiwei Life Sciences Co Ltd., the pilot zone will become a source for new technology and new products as well as an experimental site for projects in the life sciences and healthcare industry involving cells, genes and proteins.

In attendance at the ceremony were relevant leaders from the National Development and Reform Commission, National Health Commission, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, Zhejiang Health Commission and Zhejiang Medical Products Administration, as well as about 200 experts.

Huang Yong, director of the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, said in his speech: "In the next three years, the life sciences and healthcare industry will usher in a stage of rapid development. … In terms of the integration of international healthcare resources, the International Cooperation Center will make great efforts to provide strong support for (the pilot zone) in the next few years.”

According to Fang Yi, secretary of the CPC Tonglu County Committee, in recent years, Tonglu has relied on its good natural environment and rich traditional Chinese medicine culture to seize the opportunity in the age of life sciences and the healthcare industry. Tonglu has identified the health industry as one of its three leading sectors and vigorously developed it in terms of medical devices, biomedicine, life sciences and technology.

Tonglu's natural environment features unique mountains and rivers. The renowned Fuchun River stretches through verdant fields and hills like a ribbon of jade. One of the most enchanting places along the river is Tonglu, dotted with tranquil villages and trees on both banks.

Forest coverage in Tonglu county has reached 75.3 percent. The pilot zone, near Daqi Mountain and Fuchun River, enjoys a forest coverage rate as high as over 80 percent and has 39 naturally formed reservoirs with superior water quality.

Tonglu has won titles such as International Garden City, National Eco-County and One of the Most Beautiful Counties in China.

Moreover, the area has a profound Chinese medicine culture. Tongjun Old Man, the originator of traditional Chinese medicine in ancient times, first collected medicines and cured diseases in Tonglu over 4,000 years ago, leading Zhejiang province to add Tongjun Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture to its list of intangible cultural heritage. The county, which grows 1.6 million hectares of Chinese medicinal plants, has earned distinction as a healthcare base and national demonstration zone for traditional Chinese medicine.

Zhou Haijing, standing committee member of the CPC Tonglu County Committee and executive vice county mayor of Tonglu, said the average life expectancy for people in Tonglu is 82.3 years of age, which exceeds the national average by 5.9 years, making it a hometown of longevity in China.

Zhou also introduced Tonglu's geographical advantages for the development of the pilot zone. The county sits just 60 kilometers away from Hangzhou and lies in the center of the popular national tourism route stretching from the West Lake to Qiandao Lake to Huangshan Mountain. After the opening of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-speed Railway, visitors can reach Tonglu within 30 minutes from Hangzhou, one hour from major cities in the Yangtze River Delta, and six hours from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

“In the following five years, Tonglu will strive to make the output value of the life sciences and healthcare industry in the pilot area exceed 5 billion yuan, and the investment in fixed assets surpass 10 billion yuan, and it will also endeavor to attract more than 3 million tourist trips, providing the Tonglu model for innovative development of the national life sciences and healthcare industry," Zhou added.