Global Trade: 200-day countdown begins for China International Import Expo

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The China International Import Expo will be hosted at Shanghai's National Exhibition and Convention Center. Organizers are already looking for ways to provide the best services to those expected to attend. Our reporter Wang Hui has the story.

The shape of the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai is a lucky "four-leaf clover". It's the largest single building and exhibition complex in the world, with facilities for exhibitions, office buildings, a plaza and a hotel. There are 400-thousand square meters of space inside and an additional 100-thousand square meters of outdoo exhibitions space.

WANG HUI SHANGHAI "What you're seeing is the largest exhibition room. Because the room doesn't have any columns, it can easily accommodate all sorts of shows and fit large items such as aerospace and automobile exhibits. It's nearly 30-thousand square meters -- that's bigger than 4 football fields combined, and 33 meters in height, that's about 11-floors."

The metro stop inside the convention center can take guests to the city center in about 20 minutes. And many shuttle buses will be in service to take guests from the airport and high speed railway station to the venue in a mere 10 minutes. The organizers are aiming to provide the best services to attendees. Banks and restaurants are also nearby. And there will plenty of choice of cuisine.

YU ZHOU, OPERATIONS MANAGER NATIONAL EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION CENTER "Since there will be guests from many countries and different religious backgrounds, we will introduce more foreign foods and Halal food, and use brands such as Pizza Hut, Starbucks, McDonald's and KFC."

The first China International Import Expo will include country pavilions for trade and investment, an enterprise and business exhibition and a trade forum. So far, more than 800 companies from 80 countries have signed contracts to take part.

ZHOU LINGYAN, HEAD OF VENDOR COORDINATION CHINA INTERNATIONAL IMPORT EXPO BUREAU "The expo's theme shows China is sincere about further opening up its market. China is the second largest importing and consumer-driven country, and we would like to share our opportunities with the world."

Wang Hui, CGTN, Shanghai.