American biotech company Moderna on Monday commenced construction on its first pharmaceutical plant in China's Shanghai Municipality, with an estimated investment of 3.6 billion yuan (about $501 million), while its chief executive officer is in the Chinese city for this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE).

The Moderna China R&D and production headquarters project, located in Shanghai's Minhang District, covers about 18 hectares in the Shanghai Xinzhuang Industry Park, according to the park's authorities.

Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel is visiting China for the second time this year after attending a signing ceremony in July to set up Moderna's Chinese headquarters in Shanghai.

A tripartite strategic cooperation agreement was signed on July 5 between the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Minhang district government, and Moderna. 

The collaboration aims to bolster investment, research, development and commercialization in biopharmaceuticals.

As one of the world's leading mRNA vaccine developers, Moderna focuses on cancer immunotherapy, including mRNA-based medicine R&D and virus prevention technologies.

(With input from Xinhua)