Guizhou province's investment in the broader health and pharmaceutical industry is important because chronic diseases have become the dominant threat to public health, he said.

Some health and medical companies, some very well-known, have been attracted by the province's advantages to invest there.

Five programs of Jilin Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical Group Stock Co Ltd will be located in Guizhou province, said Xiu Laigui, chairman of the group. "The group is very confident about Guizhou province's great health and pharmaceutical industry with its good natural conditions," he said.

Yunnan Baiyao Group Co, manufacturer of one of the country's most famous traditional Chinese medicines, also signed a contract with the Guian New Area, an economic demonstration area in the province, to develop Chinese medicine and health service programs.

International Hospitals Group, a United Kingdom-based healthcare services company, signed a contract with the new area to establish the first public hospital, which will have 1,000 beds. The hospital program will start in August this year and be completed in two to three years.

Adam Williams, deputy chairman of IHG China, said that the group looked at several locations in Southwest China with its partner. The high-speed railway network in the region was a major reason that Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province, was chosen.

The high-speed railway connecting Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province and Guiyang began operations at the end of 2014. The trip takes about five hours.