Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. sees China becoming a "core country" for its global growth strategy, and is optimistic its $62 billion (¥6.94 trillion) acquisition of Shire PLC will win approval by the country's regulators.

Takeda is preparing to begin selling seven new drugs in China in the next five years, more than in any other region, while working to secure reimbursement for them under the country's medical insurance program, CEO Christophe Weber said in an interview in Beijing. He didn't say how many drugs would be introduced in other markets in that period.

"There's no reason in the long term China shouldn't be our second-biggest business in the world," Weber said. Takeda's goal is to launch drugs in China "at the same tempo as all of our markets, especially Europe and U.S. It's a big, big shift."