Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will try to become a company that “loves the Communist Party” in China, China’s president said on Friday, Reuters reported.

AstraZeneca headquartersPhoto: MARCUS BRANDT / AFP / Profimedia

Wang Lei, who is also the company’s executive vice president internationally, made the comments at an event in the eastern city of Wuxi to celebrate AstraZeneca’s 30th anniversary in China, according to a person familiar with the situation and photos obtained by Reuters.

While many local companies have publicly declared their loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party in recent years as President Xi Jinping, re-elected last October for a third term, has tightened state control over society and the economy, such a message from foreign companies remains unusual.

“Create a local multinational company that loves the Communist Party and the country,” Wang urged during his presentation to an audience of hundreds, his words projected on a screen behind him.

In connection with Reuters, AstraZeneca refused to comment on the situation.

But Wang Lei’s comments came as the pharmaceutical company increased its investment in China, setting up a $450 million plant to make inhalers.

China is a profitable market for AstraZeneca

Last year, 13% of AstraZeneca’s total sales came from China, and the company is the largest pharmaceutical maker in the country under President Xi Jinping.

After China reopened its borders late last year and ended its “zero COVID-19” policy after nearly 3 years, several executives from major companies, including AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot and Apple’s Tim Cook, visited Beijing to to confirm their loyalty to the communist country. but with a semi-capitalist economy.

But recent moves by the Beijing government against foreign consulting and auditing firms have raised concerns among many multinational companies that previously relied on their services for market research and other activities.

AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish company based in Cambridge, has become an international name after its researchers developed a virus vector vaccine to prevent COVID-19.