Intuitive Fosun to accelerate localization in China's robotic surgery market: CEO

Jason Liu, CEO of Intuitive Fosun, a joint venture between U.S.-based robotic surgery leader Intuitive Surgical and China's Fosun Pharma, has expressed confidence in the Chinese market, and says the company will accelerate localization efforts to better serve Chinese patients.

Intuitive Fosun has participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai for the past seven consecutive years, using the event to promote its flagship product, the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) at the event venue, Liu outlined a three-tiered localization roadmap designed to align with China's unique medical ecosystem.

"Localization is our key strategy for our investment and growth in China. We have three tiers of the localization strategy. First of all, it's really about capital system. What you look at here is our workforce fourth generation called 'da Vinci Xi'. In 2024, we have successfully started manufacturing and approved by NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) in China. So right now, we're selling this product in the Chinese market," said Liu.

"The next way for our localization, it really focuses on the I and A (instruments and accessories). We call it consumables for da Vinci system that includes robotic arms and all the necessity to perform a complex surgery product. The third layer of our localization innovation is really around AI and digitalization. So we are focusing on collaborating, our innovation powerhouse in China, really leverage China medical doctors' abilities, and really leverage the medical data coming out of China market, getting to the voice of a customer, understand their online needs around the digital product, and really drive our companies in China digitalization," he said.

Liu said that Intuitive Fosun is expanding its footprint across China, not just by bringing advanced technology to the market, but by building local capacity.

"China is already the second largest single-country market for the entire Intuitive Surgical in the world. What we believe, someday, maybe become the largest single-country market for robotic surgery. So, short answer is we are very bullish and confident about the RAS (robotic-assisted surgery) in China in the future. We want to continue to invest in our China market, really wanting to bring more advanced technologies into China," said Liu.

CIIE is the world's first national-level expo dedicated to imports.

The 8th CIIE this year, which concluded on Monday, has set a new record in terms of scale. It attracted participation from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with 4,108 overseas exhibitors and a total exhibition area of over 430,000 square meters, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Intuitive Fosun to accelerate localization in China's robotic surgery market: CEO

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' separatist moves to stoke cross-Strait hostility are unpopular and doomed to fail, said Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing on Wednesday.

Zhang made the comments at a regular press conference in response to a media query about recent inappropriate remarks by Chiu Chui-cheng, head of the so-called "mainland affairs council", regarding the Chinese mainland's policy of advancing high-quality cross-Strait integrated development".

"Our fellow Taiwan compatriots are our kith and kin. Over the years, acting on the principle that 'people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are all of the same family', we have actively promoted cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, deepened the integrated development across various fields, and made steady progress in implementing policies that provide equal treatment to Taiwan compatriots. These efforts have continuously yielded new results, fully demonstrating our goodwill in seeking benefits for Taiwan compatriots and our sincerity in advancing the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations. Such endeavors have been met with strong support and wide acclaim from our Taiwan compatriots. Driven by its separatist pursuit of 'Taiwan secession', the DPP authorities are deeply fearful of closer ties between people across the Strait. They have deliberately fanned the flames of confrontation and antagonism, while resorting to slander and obstruction against anything that helps develop cross-Strait relations and benefits people on both sides. Such moves are deeply unpopular and are bound to fail," she said.

DPP's moves to stoke cross-Strait hostility unpopular, doomed to fail: spokeswoman