The Shanghai municipal government has conferred the title of Honorary Citizen on Dr. Severin Schwan, chairman of the board of directors of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche Group.

The honor, one of the city's highest recognitions for foreign nationals, acknowledges Schwan's longstanding commitment to Shanghai's economic and social development.

"I was extremely honored to receive the honorary citizenship of Shanghai," Schwan said. "It's very meaningful to me. It's a privilege. I'm also a bit humbled to receive this recognition. But of course, I receive it on behalf of our company and all the people who have been here in Shanghai working together with a lot of domestic companies for many decades."

Schwan, who became chairman of the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai in 2024, has participated in IBLAC meetings for 16 consecutive years since 2009.

Through his involvement, he has guided council members in bringing together global perspectives and offering valuable recommendations for Shanghai's economic and social development, as well as for the advancement of China's biopharmaceutical industry. His efforts have supported Shanghai's drive to become a globally influential center for science and technology innovation.

Under Schwan's leadership, Roche has continued to expand its presence in Shanghai and across China. The Swiss healthcare company has built and consistently upgraded a complete end-to-end pharmaceutical value chain in the country, encompassing early research and development, drug development, manufacturing, marketing and open collaboration.

The Swiss executive also promoted the development of Roche's China Innovation Center and Roche Accelerator in Shanghai.

Reinforcing the company's dedication to the Chinese market, Roche, with Schwan's support, recently announced a 2.04 billion yuan ($285.88 million) investment in Shanghai to build a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing base. The facility will strengthen Roche's supply chain and enhance its local production capability in China.