CIIE emerges as key hub for global trade cooperation

The China International Import Expo is continuously contributing to facilitating international economic and trade cooperation, sharing massive opportunities in the Chinese market with the whole world, officials and consuls-general said on June 12 in Shanghai.

The eighth CIIE, which is set to be held in the city from Nov 5 to 10, has already seen its contracted business exhibition area exceed 280,000 square meters so far.

This year's CIIE will highlight emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, the silver economy, the ice and snow economy, future mobility and the low-altitude economy, according to Wu Zhengping, Party secretary and deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau.

Since its launch in 2018, the expo has attracted over 23,000 exhibitors from more than 180 countries and regions, welcomed 2.9 million professional buyers, and hosted a total of 5 million visitors. Intended deals worth more than $500 billion have been signed over the past seven editions, Wu said.

“We are seeing a remarkable rise in China’s contribution to global imports, which reflects the country’s confidence and willingness to share its development opportunities with the rest of the world,” he added.

Hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government, the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District Administrative Commission, and the CIIE Bureau, dozens of consuls-general in Shanghai joined a tour on June 12 to learn more about the expo and the Hongqiao CBD.

Ma Yinghui, director of Shanghai's Foreign Affairs Office, pointed out that the Shanghai Hongqiao CBD and the CIIE serve as crucial gateways for China's opening-up. She expressed hope for enhanced communication with consulates and deeper cooperation with countries around the globe.

Kong Fu'an, executive vice-director of the Shanghai Hongqiao CBD Administrative Commission, noted that the district boasts diverse advantages and is thriving as a hub connecting the world with China, as the city is working to become an international center for economy, finance, trade, shipping, and sci-tech innovation.

Vladislav Alexandrov Spasov, consul-general of Bulgaria in Shanghai, was in the visiting group. Bulgaria has been participating in the CIIE since  its inception in 2018, showcasing products such as  cosmetics, wine, food and cultural and tourists offerings.

"The CIIE is a great platform for exhibiting high-quality products and establishing global connections," Spasov said.

"It offers opportunities to Bulgarian companies to present their products to Chinese customers while maintaining contacts with their distributors and discussing future ventures. I'm looking forward to the eighth CIIE, expecting Bulgarian and Chinese companies to have more contacts on collaboration and deepen economic ties."

Vietnam is another active participant at the CIIE. It was a guest country of honor at the first and sixth CIIE, and over 70 exhibitors from the nation attended the expo over the past seven editions.

Nguyen The Tung, Vietnamese consul-general in Shanghai, told China Daily that the CIIE has been strengthening economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and China.

He described the expo as a key event for enhancing regional cooperation and exchanges between China and Southeast Asian countries.