AstraZeneca to Invest $15 Bn in China by 2030 During UK PM Starmer’s Beijing Visit

AstraZeneca said it will invest $15 bn in China by 2030 to expand medicines manufacturing and research and development, marking its largest-ever investment in the country. The announcement was made during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing, underscoring efforts by London to deepen economic ties with China amid strained relations with Washington.

The UK drugmaker said the investment would strengthen its long-term presence in China, its second-largest market, where it has operated for more than three decades. Chief executive Pascal Soriot described the plan as a milestone for the company, which has already invested billions in Chinese research hubs in Beijing and Shanghai.

Starmer welcomed the move, saying AstraZeneca’s expansion in China would support growth at home and help sustain thousands of jobs in the UK. The deal is the biggest commercial announcement linked to the prime minister’s trip so far.

Despite recent challenges in China, including regulatory scrutiny and the arrest of its China president in 2024, AstraZeneca has continued to expand its footprint. The company has also signed multiple partnerships with Chinese biotech firms as China emerges as a key source of new drug development globally.

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