<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:city>, 2 April 2007

COCIR Etablishes Desk In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>

Today the European Healthcare Trade Association (COCIR¹) and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> (European Chamber²) announced the opening of a dedicated COCIR China desk in <st1:city w:st="on">Beijing</st1:city> to support the development of a transparent and predictable regulatory framework for medical devices in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>. This desk, hosted by the European Chamber and managed by Business Manager Maurizio Andreano, will allow COCIR to enhance dialogue and cooperation with the Chinese authorities.

<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> is an area of special interest for COCIR. “The ambition of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> to develop a healthcare system that can match the tremendous growth of its economy is a major challenge to the medical industry. We believe that COCIR can bring solutions and share its expertise and experience from <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> and other regions” said <st1:personname w:st="on">Nicole Denjoy</st1:personname>, COCIR Secretary General. Ian Kay, European Chamber Secretary General, expressed that he was delighted to cooperate with such a strong organization supporting the healthcare industry in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> and as part of the European Chamber.

COCIR has been the voice of the healthcare and medical IT industry in the European Union since 1959 and is working to develop the future of healthcare in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> and beyond.  COCIR, based in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brussels</st1:place></st1:city>, represents the interests and activities of its members, global companies and SMEs as well as national trade associations, and acts as a channel for communication between all its members and the European institutions and other global regulatory bodies.

¹COCIR promotes free worldwide trade of medical devices and encourages the use of advanced technology supporting cost-efficient healthcare delivery worldwide.

²The European Union Chamber of Commerce in <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> represents European businesses and industry in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place>. The European Chamber was formed in October 2000 with the support of the Delegation of the European Commission in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:city>. Today the European Chamber represents over 1100 European businesses in seven cities across <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

Photos are available, please contact press@cocir.org