China says GSK probe part of business climate clean-up

Photo taken on July 12, 2013 shows the building of a vaccines company of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Britain's biggest drug maker, in Shanghai, east China. Some senior executives from GlaxoSmithKline(China) Investment Co., Ltd are being investigated for suspected bribery and tax-related violations, Chinese police said Thursday. (Xinhua File Photo)

A commerce official said Wednesday that China's probe into British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was part of the country's efforts to improve business climate and create equal competition opportunities for domestic and overseas investors.

Shen Danyang, the spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), made the remarks at a press conference when asked to comment on the ongoing investigation into multinational pharmaceutical giant GSK (China) Investment Co. Ltd.

Shen said China firmly opposes any form of commercial bribery, regardless of whether the company involved is Chinese or foreign,

Any company, be it Chinese- or foreign-funded, should be subject to legal sanctions and assume legal responsibility if it breaks Chinese law, Shen said.

As a well-known multinational company, GSK should also conduct investment activities in China in accordance with relevant Chinese laws, Shen added.

China's Ministry of Public Security announced last week that some senior executives involved in the British drugmaker's China operations were being investigated for suspected bribery and tax-related violations.

Four executives of GSK China were accused of channelling large bribes to Chinese officials and doctors through travel agencies to boost sales illegally and raise the price of its medicines in the country.