On Oct 17, Huang Guo, commissioner of China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), met with a delegation led by Delese Mimi Darko, director-general of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), who was in Beijing to attend the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026.

Huang said China has continuously strengthened its regulatory system covering the whole lifecycle of drugs and consistently improved policies to encourage innovation. In recent years, the number of innovative drugs approved for marketing in China has risen significantly, with several achieving their global debut, he noted.

Drug regulatory authorities share the common mission of combating disease and ensuring patients have access to safe and effective medicines, Huang said. China is ready to share its practical experience with its African counterparts and enhance cooperation in regulatory policy exchanges and international multilateral coordination, he noted.

Darko spoke highly of the achievements China has made in drug regulatory reform. She said the AMA is steadily advancing the development of its governance structure and is willing to establish a direct communication mechanism with China, strengthen exchanges on drug regulation, and promote tangible outcomes in bilateral cooperation.

The two sides agreed to establish a cooperation mechanism, identify areas of collaboration, and work together to ensure that more high-quality medical products benefit patients and enhance public health and well-being.

Yang Sheng, deputy commissioner of China's NMPA, and leading officials from relevant departments of the NMPA were also present.