Longhua hosts international biomedical exchange ahead of APEC

Longhua District hosted the 2026 Healthcare Industry (Longhua) Cooperation Exchange event on March 12, bringing together global medical companies, investors and Shenzhen-based innovators to explore new opportunities for international collaboration.

The 2026 Healthcare Industry (Longhua) Cooperation Exchange is held in Longhua on March 12. Photos courtesy of the Longhua District Investment Promotion Service Center

Guided by the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Investment Promotion and organized by the Longhua District Investment Promotion Service Center, the event welcomed representatives from 16 leading medical companies and investment institutions from the United States, Europe and Japan. They joined major Shenzhen enterprises including China Resources Sanjiu, PuMen Sci-Tech and Cornerstone Robotics to discuss industry trends, technological innovation, regulatory compliance and cross-border cooperation.

Strong industry foundation

The event highlighted Longhua’s growing strength in the life and health sector. As a key manufacturing hub for high-end medical devices in Shenzhen, the district has been accelerating the development of biomedicine and advanced medical equipment under the city’s “20+8” industrial cluster strategy.

Visitors learn about Longhua District’s achievements in the life and health sector during the exchange event.

Longhua has established a full industrial ecosystem covering innovation, pilot testing, manufacturing and application demonstration. The district is home to leading companies such as Mindray, China Resources Sanjiu, Winner Medical and PuMen Sci-Tech, while emerging firms including Cornerstone Robotics and Juxin Medical are gaining national recognition in fields such as vascular intervention, ophthalmic treatment and vital-sign monitoring.

In 2025, Longhua ranked second in Shenzhen in the value-added output of the biopharmaceutical industry, while its high-end medical device sector recorded a year-on-year increase of 20.8%.

Innovation capacity is further strengthened by national-level platforms such as the National Innovation Center for Advanced Medical Devices, which has supported breakthroughs including the world’s first 5.0T whole-body human MRI system and China’s first domestically developed ECMO system.

The Longhua Branch of Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital. The hospital is part of Longhua District’s public hospital network supporting healthcare services for local residents.

Looking ahead, Longhua is developing the Shenzhen International Medical Device City, a roughly 20-square-kilometer industrial cluster integrating research, manufacturing, testing and commercialization facilities.

Innovation and real-world applications

Longhua is also promoting the real-world deployment of medical technologies across clinical care, smart healthcare, elderly care and intelligent manufacturing.

Locally developed high-end imaging equipment, minimally invasive devices and vital-sign monitoring products are widely used in medical institutions. The district is also advancing an AI-enabled healthcare platform supporting applications such as AI-assisted diagnosis, intelligent rehabilitation and telemedicine.

Smart technologies including HarmonyOS, 5G and artificial intelligence are being integrated into elderly care services, while companies such as China Resources Sanjiu have introduced digital twin factories and AI-powered inspection systems to upgrade pharmaceutical production.

Longhua also benefits from a strong healthcare network with seven public hospitals and an extensive community healthcare system that recorded 8.79 million patient visits in 2025.

Expanding global cooperation

With Shenzhen entering the APEC "China Year" in 2026, officials said the exchange event provides an important platform to deepen international cooperation in the life sciences sector.

During the event, overseas delegates visited China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., the National Innovation Center for Advanced Medical Devices and Shenzhen Cornerstone Robotics to gain firsthand insights into the city’s latest biomedical innovations.

Participants pose for a group photo during a visit to China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. in Longhua District.

Representatives from Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic and Mölnlycke also shared their innovation strategies and expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Shenzhen in areas including research and development, clinical studies and market expansion.

Officials said Longhua will continue to strengthen its industrial ecosystem, expanding global partnerships and attracting high-quality international projects as it works to build a world-class hub for high-end medical devices and life sciences innovation.