Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Lars Rebien Sorensen, chair of the Novo Nordisk Foundation and chair of the Board of Directors of Novo Nordisk A/S of Denmark, in Beijing on Thursday.
Noting the Chinese government attaches great importance to the people's health, Han said that China will move faster to advance the Healthy China Initiative and strive to raise the average life expectancy to 80 years during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Han expressed hope that Novo Nordisk A/S will give play to its advantages and actively join the Healthy China Initiative.
Han said that China will further expand high-level opening up, make persistent efforts to foster a first-rate business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, and support the better development of foreign-funded enterprises including Novo Nordisk A/S in the country.
Sorensen said Novo Nordisk A/S is optimistic about the development prospect of the Chinese economy, and will continue to expand its business in China, participate in the development of China's pharmaceutical industry, and make more contributions to advancing the Healthy China Initiative.
Chinese vice president meets chair of Novo Nordisk Foundation
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that despite having a different view, he granted the permission for signing a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington.
He made the remarks in a message addressed to Iran's people, which was carried by Iranian media, hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, signed the MoU on ending the war.
Khamenei said the officials in charge made extensive efforts out of "sincere concern and goodwill" in the course of reaching this stage, adding, "Of course, it was the American president who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverages to bring this about."
He stressed, "I, as a matter of principle, hold a different view; However, out of the commitment that the esteemed president -- as the head of the Supreme National Security Council -- gave to me on his own behalf and on behalf of the other members regarding the safeguarding of the rights of the lranian nation and the Resistance Front, and his explicit acceptance of that responsibility, I granted my permission."
Khamenei added that Pezeshkian and other SNSC members had also stated that if the United States seeks to make "excessive demands," they will not submit to them.
He emphasized that from this moment on, he and the "proud" Iranian nation will wait for the realization of the conditions set by Iran under the MoU, noting, however, that "the in-person negotiations that will take place in the future will not mean acceptance of the enemy's position."
Iran, the United States and Pakistan early Monday announced the finalization of the MoU to end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. The Iranian and U.S. presidents signed the MoU electronically early Thursday.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region.
Iran's supreme leader says granted permission for MoU with U.S. despite having different view
