GE HealthCare has recently announced that it is planning to form a new joint venture with the China National Medical Device Corporation. The Chinese National Medical Device Corporation is part of Sinopharm, China’s state-owned healthcare corporation, which has enjoyed a partnership with GE for more than 30 years.

The new agreement, which is in addition to a ongoing joint venture relationship, will be focused on medical imaging, and will seek to develop, manufacture and commercialise imaging equipment in a bid to meet growing demand in the country. According to a filing by the American firm, the initial focus of the joint venture will be non-premium CT systems and general ultrasound solutions aimed at primary care and rural health markets however, this scope could grow as the venture develops.