Shanghai gears up for first CIIE

As the first China International Import Expo（CIIE）is less than one month away, the host city Shanghai has reached the final stage of its preparations, as products from all over the world have been arriving in the city.

Designed to be a world-class event on a par with the most renowned exhibitions in the world, the inaugural import expo combines country exhibitions, enterprise exhibitions and forums to promote free trade and an open global economy.

The event, which will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai, was first announced in 2017 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who called it "an important policy statement and action demonstrating China's embracing of greater openness".

According to the China International Import Expo Bureau, a total of 2,800 companies from the G20 member states, as well as 50 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, will participate in the expo. Around 160,000 buyers from more than 80,000 domestic and overseas enterprises have also signed up for the event.

In addition, 80 countries and three international organizations have confirmed their participation in the event, said the bureau.

As the event is drawing near, goods from foreign exhibitors have arrived at local customs. Shanghai has opened green channels for the products, significantly cutting the time needed for them to be unloaded and stored in local warehouses.

Chinese companies are eyeing the great potential of boosting imports through the event."During the expo, we expect to import at least 1,000 kinds of products and services that have not been sold in the domestic market," said Wang Zhe, Party secretary of China's commercial giant Suning Holdings Group. "In the next three years, we plan to import goods worth 10 billion euros ($11.5 billion)."

"The CIIE shows China's changing trade strategy and its resolve to fulfill its responsibility as a major country and achieve mutual benefits and win-win cooperation with all nations," said Zhao Beiwen, deputy head of the World Economy Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.           

Shanghai gears up for first CIIE

As the first China International Import Expo（CIIE）is less than one month away, the host city Shanghai has reached the final stage of its preparations, as products from all over the world have been arriving in the city. Designed to be a world-class event on a par with the most renowned exhibitions in the world, the inaugural import expo combines country exhibitions, enterprise exhibitions and forums to promote free trade and an open global economy. The event, which will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai, was first announced in 2017 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who called it an important policy statement and action demonstrating Chinas embracing of greater openness. According to the China International Import Expo Bureau, a total of 2,800 companies from the G20 member states, as well as 50 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, will participate in the expo. Around 160,000 buyers from more than 80,000 domestic and overseas enterprises have also signed up for the event. In addition, 80 countries and three international organizations have confirmed their participation in the event, said the bureau. As the event is drawing near, goods from foreign exhibitors have arrived at local customs. Shanghai has opened green channels for the products, significantly cutting the time needed for them to be unloaded and stored in local warehouses. Chinese companies are eyeing the great potential of boosting imports through the event.During the expo, we expect to import at least 1,000 kinds of products and services that have not been sold in the domestic market, said Wang Zhe, Party secretary of Chinas commercial giant Suning Holdings Group. In the next three years, we plan to import goods worth 10 billion euros ($11.5 billion). The CIIE shows Chinas changing trade strategy and its resolve to fulfill its responsibility as a major country and achieve mutual benefits and win-win cooperation with all nations, said Zhao Beiwen, deputy head of the World Economy Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.