Huang Guo, commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), met on May 27 in Beijing with a delegation led by Martin Taylor, World Health Organization (WHO) representative to China. Two sides had in-depth discussions on the WHO Listed Authority (WLA) assessment, collaboration in traditional Chinese medicines, the support for the development of WHO technical standards and personnel exchanges.

Huang said that the WHO plays a crucial leading and coordinating role in global public health governance, adding that the NMPA is willing to work with the WHO to open up broader prospects for cooperation based on existing efforts.

He noted that China's drug regulation and its biopharmaceutical industry have developed rapidly in recent years. The NMPA will adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, firmly pursue development up to international standards and is well-positioned to successfully complete the WLA assessment and other related tasks, so as to become an more trusted partner of the WHO and global drug regulatory agencies, he said.

Taylor highly praised China's achievements in building its drug regulatory system and developing its biopharmaceutical industry and expressed his hope that China will make greater contributions to global public health.

They agreed to advance cooperation to a higher level, contributing to ensuring public access to safe drugs and promoting the coordinated development of global drug regulation.

Officials from the related departments of the NMPA were also present at the meeting.