AstraZeneca 'operating normally'

Pharma firm: Senior exec cooperating with probe by Chinese authorities

BEIJING — AstraZeneca is operating normally in China under the leadership of its current general manager and that it would, if requested, fully cooperate with an investigation by authorities on a senior company executive in the country, the company said.

Leon Wang, executive vice-president international, and China unit president at AstraZeneca, is cooperating with the ongoing investigation, the pharmaceutical company said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Separately, responding to a query from a journalist regarding the investigation of Wang, Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a news conference on Thursday, "What I want to point out here is that the Chinese government welcomes foreign companies to invest and operate in China, and will protect their legitimate rights and interests."