"Why are we spending so much purchasing medical devices in the CIIE? It's because I hope that some of 100 million people that live in Henan Province don't need to travel to big cities like Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou as they do now to look for better qualified medical services," Guo Haiyan, Director of Henan Provincial Department of Commerce, told CGTN in an interview on Saturday.

At the largest import event in China, the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), CGTN talked to Guo Haiyan about the province determination to eliminate inequality through actions taken in the CIIE. 

Located in northern China, Henan Province has been commonly recognized as a less developed inland region in the country, known for highly polluted air over heavy industries and a large number of people living in poverty.

How to make a breakthrough and catch up with the opening policy like the coastal cities are doing? The answer is using the CIIE. Apart from buying products from overseas companies, Henan representatives are also looking for investors in the event.

Meat, medical devices, and services

"We all know the pork price jumped surprisingly over the past few months, due to the African swine fever," Guo told CGTN. "To make sure there is a sufficient supply of pork and beef in the market, we have signed contracts with two Brazilian food companies: Minerva Foods and JBS S/A."

Henan Province is the major producer of meat in the Chinese market, but it takes at least one year and a half to recover the supply of pork after the African swine fever.

Considering the basic needs of people, delegates from Henan Province believe meat is the most important product they should buy in the CIIE.

Besides meat, medical devices have been a major target for purchasers from Henan Province since the first CIIE, as the local government is determined to upgrade its medical care system.

On November 6, Henan Province announced it will import high-tech medical devices and medication from the British company GlaxoSmithKline and German company Braun.

Guo hopes patients could find cheaper and better medicines from other countries, especially after the rapid development of digital platforms.

"Do you know why 80 percent of Apple products were produced in the Henan Province?" Guo asked. The official is confident that the air transportation capability of Henan Province is the key reason why the manufacturing industry in the province has been a favorite of foreign investors.

To improve its capacity in trading and transportation, Henan Province Business Import Company signed a contract with Turkish Airlines and CECZ from Hungary, to supplement its growing needs of air transport capacity.

This year, the number of purchasers from Henan Province is 18,625, 194.5 percent higher than last year.

"How to improve people's living quality and how to meet their consuming demands are two standards for what we buy in the CIIE," Guo told CGTN.

More than buying, investment is the target

If you think the CIIE is only a place for provincial government to buy imported goods, then you are missing on the full picture of CIIE.

"This year, we have a special group called Investment Promotion Department with 60 members," Guo said. "What do they do here? They talk to people, promote Henan Province, and attract people to invest in our hometown.”

Guo stated that the CIIE is more than a place to see and buy products, it's also an international platform for domestic institutions to make a connection with foreign business operators.

On November 6, the GE Renewable Energy from America and China Huaneng Group Co. Ltd. signed an agreement at the CIIE. 

GE will build a 715 MW wind farm in Puyang, Henan Province. It will be GE's largest-ever wind order in Asia, and for Henan Province, this is a key new energy development project providing greener electricity to 500,000 homes in the region.

Over 3,000 corporations from 150 countries and regions have sent their representatives to the 2019 CIIE, exploring new business opportunities and overseas trade partners. Among the 500,000 participants, over 6,000 of them are from outside of China.

The CIIE is growing as an international platform, providing services to buyers both from China and other countries all over the world.