China opens 6th CIIE, deepening cooperation with global businesses

The sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai on Sunday, creating a window of win-win opportunities for participating exhibitors.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter to the expo, which is scheduled to run until November 10.

Xi said he hopes the CIIE will better serve as a window for fostering a new development pattern that creates new opportunities for the world through China's further development and as a platform of high-standard opening up that allows China's enormous market to be shared by the world.

He also expressed hope that the expo will play a greater role in providing shared international public goods and services that facilitate an open world economy and let the world benefit from win-win cooperation. 

Creating win-win opportunities

China will continue to promote greater opening up of market opportunities and implement policies to remove all restrictions on foreign investment in the country's manufacturing sector, Chinese premier Li Qiang said during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

"China sincerely hopes to work with other countries in the world, to meet each other halfway and achieve mutual success on an open stage," he said.

Anthony Albanese, Australian prime minister, noted in his address at the opening ceremony that "international trade benefits the lifting of global living standards."

He said he "looks forward to seeing the businesses represented here at the China International Import Expo building even stronger ties between our nations."

What's new at the expo?

The expo, held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), showcases China's new development paradigm, a platform for high-standard opening up, and a public good for the whole world.

The CIIE this year is expected to attract guests from 154 countries, regions and international organizations. Over 3,400 exhibitors and 394,000 professional visitors have registered to attend the event. Among the 3,000 global companies participating this year, roughly 200 companies have been to every expo since 2018, and around 400 companies are returning to the expo after a gap of more than two years.

Some 69 countries and three international organizations have confirmed their participation in the country exhibitions, among which 11 countries are taking part for the first time. The country exhibition section is one of the three main sections in the expo, alongside enterprise exhibitions and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum.

The U.S. is also participating in the expo on the federal level for the first time. The American pavilion consists of 17 exhibitors and will mainly showcase agricultural products and agri-technology from the states of California, Idaho and Georgia.

Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, said the CIIE is a great opportunity for agricultural representatives from the U.S. to meet with Chinese customers and other delegates.

"It's a signal that the two countries recognize the importance of the trade," said Eric Zheng, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Over 400 innovative products, technologies and services are set to be unveiled at the expo. They include prosthetic knees that provide active power, international advanced aging inhibitors, and technology that delivers accurate diagnosis and treatment for pancreatic cancer.

(Cover: An outdoor display showing the China International Import Expo mascot "Jinbao." /CFP)