Exclusive Interview with Cangzhou Daily | Zhu Shujie, Chairman of Guangxiang Pharmaceutical under Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical Group: Service with Heart, Confidence in Development


TIME:2026-03-12

【SUMMARY】

On a warm spring day, the sun shines over the Cangzhou Port Economic and Technological Development Zone, where the modern premises of Hebei Guangxiang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. bustle with activity. In the R&D laboratory, researchers are diligently tackling key technical challenges; in the intelligent production workshops, each production line is operating smoothly and efficiently.

Guangxiang Pharmaceutical is a large-scale pharmaceutical enterprise invested and built by Shijiazhuang Sihua Pharmaceutical Group in the Cangzhou Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone, capitalizing on the major strategic opportunities presented by the coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and vigorously implementing a “API-plus-formulation” development strategy. Focused on the R&D, production, and export of specialty APIs and intermediates, the company has, since its establishment in Cangzhou in 2017, risen to become a national-level innovation platform—demonstrating what can be described as the “Cangzhou Speed” in achieving high-quality development of the API industry within just a few years. Zhu Shujie, Chairman of the Board, stated: “The company’s rapid breakthroughs and steady growth would have been impossible without the robust support of Cangzhou’s world-class business environment. The attentive services and targeted assistance provided by government departments at all levels are precisely what give us the strongest confidence as we deepen our commitment to high-end APIs and strive to capture international markets.”

Looking back to the early stages of the project’s development, Cangzhou City, Huanghua City in the Bohai New Area, and the Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone coordinated at multiple levels, with dedicated task forces established across departments such as approval, development and reform, science and technology, and industry and information technology to provide end-to-end support. By implementing “one-stop” joint review and processing and full-cycle assistance and agency services, processes such as project approval, environmental impact assessment, and construction permits were advanced in parallel and completed efficiently, thereby minimizing burdens and accelerating procedures for enterprises and paving a “highway” for the rapid implementation of the project.

Talent is the primary resource for innovation. Focusing on the needs of enterprises in attracting, cultivating, and retaining talent, Cangzhou has implemented a comprehensive package of support policies covering household registration, housing security, and research incentives, while actively fostering collaboration between universities and businesses. This not only helps Guangxiang Pharmaceutical assemble a high-caliber R&D team but also enables the company to partner with leading Beijing–Tianjin institutions such as Tianjin University and Nankai University to build a robust innovation pipeline. At the same time, leveraging the innovation chain to enhance the value chain, Guangxiang Pharmaceutical fully taps the research strengths of universities and research institutes, employing advanced technologies such as continuous-flow microreactors and continuous crystallization to relentlessly optimize API manufacturing processes. As a result, the company has successfully addressed numerous common and critical technical challenges in the production of products like caffeine and metronidazole, significantly improving both yield and quality metrics.

“We employ domestically leading crystal-form control technology, which enables precise regulation of particle size and bulk density to meet the diverse requirements of high-end customers in Europe and North America. This technology has significantly enhanced key quality metrics such as flowability for products like caffeine and metronidazole. In addition, our caffeine products have obtained carbon-footprint management certification, earning the unwavering trust of European and American clients. Currently, our caffeine accounts for more than 30% of the global market,” said Zhu Shujie. “Leveraging deep technological collaborations with universities in Beijing and Tianjin, we introduced 14 new high-end products just last year.” Even more beneficial is the industrial “internal circulation” fostered within the park. At present, Guangxiang Pharmaceutical has established close partnerships with 20 upstream and downstream enterprises, substantially reducing operating costs and shortening supply lead times. Meanwhile, the local testing platform and convenient port logistics together ensure the smooth export of our products to over 60 countries and regions worldwide.

A series of pragmatic measures implemented by governments at all levels and departments in Cangzhou to optimize the business environment have further strengthened Guangxiang Pharmaceutical’s confidence in taking root in Cangzhou and pursuing innovative development. Zhu Shujie stated that the company will seize the opportunities presented by the improved business environment, continue to increase R&D investment, tackle key core technologies for high-end active pharmaceutical ingredients, and help Cangzhou establish itself as a leading hub for the API industry.

(Source: Liu Jie, reporter for Cangzhou Daily; originally published in the March 11, 2026 issue of Cangzhou Daily.)

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