Bayer welcomes China's environmental focus

The head of German pharmaceutical and chemical maker Bayer AG welcomed on Wednesday a promised commitment by China's new leadership to environmental conservation and said his company is prepared to meet Chinese consumers' demands.

CEO Marijn Dekkers made the remarks at an innovation forum in Bayer's home city on the same day that the Communist Party of China elected a new central committee at the closing of its 18th National Congress in Beijing. The Party's new leadership will be chosen on Thursday.

At the congress, the CPC has put equal emphasis on environmental protection as it has on economic, cultural and social matters in devising strategy for China's development. The environmental message was interpreted as a new strategic focus of the incoming leadership.

"Our research topics, such as nutrition, health, efficiency of resources, are very much the focus of the new leadership and very much emphasized in China. We are well prepared to meet the needs of Chinese people," Dekkers told China Daily on the sidelines of Wednesday's forum in Germany.

He said the Chinese government has already been focused on the environment and sustainability, and included these as priorities in previous five-year plans for the nation's development.

"We have noticed more and more emphasis on this and we really welcome it," Dekkers said.

Wolfgang Plischke, a member of Bayer's management board and its chief executive for innovation, said the company has significantly research and development across its businesses in China in recent years.

Bayer currently has about 50 R&D projects in China — in chemistry, plant sciences and other disciplines with partners such as the Chinese Academy of Science and Tongji University in Shanghai.

"China is very important for us; we have a very strong focus and we will put a lot of resources into the country," Plischke said.

Dekkers, in his speech at the innovation forum, stressed the importance of innovation in Bayer's business and addressing "the global challenges that exist at the beginning of the third millennium".

Trends such as population growth, demographic shifts, environmental changes and heightened awareness of the value of sustainability present the company with opportunities as well as challenges. Bayer, the CEO said. Bauer is on track to invest about 3 billion euros ($3.8 billion) in global R&D this year, he added.

Dekkers also referred to Bayer's recent progress in developing the anticoagulant drug Xarelto, cancer medicines Stivarga and Alpharadin, eye medication VEGF Trap-Eye and Riociguat, designed to treat high blood pressure. He said it expects peak annual sales potential of 5.5 billion euros for the five drugs.