China's import expo sees over $83 billion in tentative deals

The eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) concluded in Shanghai on Monday with record-breaking results, underscoring China's unwavering commitment to high-level opening-up and global cooperation.

The six-day event saw a total of $83.49 billion in tentative deals for one-year purchases of goods and services, up 4.4 percent from last year and setting a new all-time high since the expo's inception in 2018.

A rich showcase of cultural diversity and industrial innovation

A total of 67 countries, regions, and international organizations took part in the Country Exhibition, which covered 30,000 square meters and hosted over 100 on-site activities.

The exhibition highlighted diverse strengths from Colombia's coffee and Nigeria's sesame seeds to Sweden's smart bearings and green trucks, showcasing both cultural diversity and industrial innovation.

China's pavilion featured 570 exhibits, the largest number in its history, illustrating achievements under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and milestones in cutting-edge sectors such as high-speed rail, civil aviation, and 6G technologies.

New trends and innovations take center stage

The Corporate Exhibition reached new heights in both scale and quality, with a record 36.7 million square meters of display area and 4,108 exhibitors from 138 countries and regions, including 290 Fortune 500 and industry-leading companies.

More than 460 new products, technologies, and services were unveiled, with 201 global debuts, including innovations such as the world's fastest noninvasive diagnostic device and the lightest foldable smartphone.

Trends like the "silver economy," the "pet economy," and personalized wellness drew particular attention. Meanwhile, major multinational CEOs and decision-makers gathered in person to reaffirm their long-term commitment to the Chinese market.

Fruitful exchanges and linkages

This year's expo featured robust business linkages, with 43 trade delegations and over 700 sub-delegations participating. Registered attendees exceeded 460,000, up 7 percent from last year, once again demonstrating the strong attraction of China's vast market.

The Shanghai trading delegation alone reported intended deals worth $10.62 billion, a 5.14 percent increase, maintaining its leading position among local delegations for the eighth consecutive year.

For the first time, a Buyers' Zone was specifically set up this year at the CIIE, inviting 14 major Chinese state-owned enterprises to move in, along with 20 major retail chains and leading e-commerce platforms. They publish procurement requirements and conduct face-to-face meetings, a format that drew praise from overseas exhibitors, with more than 600 rounds of business talks being held.

During the VIP buyers selection event, companies from the agriculture, consumer goods, and medical sectors held over 1,300 rounds of "matchmaking" discussions, helping connect international suppliers with China's expanding demand.

Also, the Trade and Investment Matchmaking Conference attracted over 5,000 enterprises and industrial parks, resulting in more than 300 cooperation agreements. In addition, a series of centralized signing events yielded nearly 600 new partnership intentions, further underscoring the expo's role as a catalyst for concrete business outcomes.

Openness and cooperation essential for world peace and development

The 8th Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) was held in tandem with the CIIE. Under the theme "Opening Up for New Opportunities, Collaborating for a Shared Future," it gathered more than 10,000 participants, including 400 global experts and eight Nobel Prize laureates, to discuss topics ranging from trade security to global governance.

The forum launched 20 key reports and initiatives, reaffirming China's growing influence in promoting openness and reform in global trade systems.

The HQF released the World Openness Report, "Seeking New Consensus on Openness amid the Balance of Cooperation and Security," noting that openness and cooperation are the inevitable path for world peace and development.

With improved services, intelligent navigation, and upgraded logistics, the expo achieved record satisfaction among exhibitors and visitors, who made 922,000 entries as of noon on Monday.

With preparations for the ninth CIIE already underway, enthusiasm remains high. Nearly 100 foreign enterprises have already reserved booths for next year's edition, reflecting the world's continued confidence in China's open market and shared opportunities.