French pharmaceutical company Sanofi on Tuesday signed a partnership agreement with the Pingshan district government in Shenzhen to accelerate the introduction of innovative vaccines to the Chinese market.

According to the agreement, the two sides will also leverage the Greater Bay Area International Vaccine Innovation Center, which was jointly established by the company and the Shenzhen government, as a platform to promote the innovative development of the biopharmaceutical industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

As one of the first national biopharmaceutical industry bases, Shenzhen has for many years been focused on establishing an ecosystem for scientific research and commercial production. The city has also been channeling significant resources into the research, development and production of high-end medical devices and innovative medicines so as to make the industry a new economic growth driver.

"Pingshan is the heartland of Shenzhen's biopharmaceutical industry. We believe that our collaboration with Sanofi will benefit the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry and make it the core engine for industrial growth in the GBA," said Yang Jun, Party secretary of Pingshan district.

Thomas Triomphe, executive vice-president, head of vaccines, Sanofi, said the company's growth in China, especially in vaccines, is largely due to the open, international business environment in Shenzhen city and Pingshan district.

"We'll introduce more innovative products and preventive solutions to support the public health system and meet the disease prevention needs of the Chinese. We hope this will also contribute to the economic growth of Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area," he said.

Sanofi and the Shenzhen government had previously in 2019 signed a memorandum of understanding regarding a strategic cooperation in vaccine innovation.

In 2021, the two parties established the GBA International Vaccine Innovation Center in Pingshan district.