The international bank HSBC is ready to do more to facilitate the growth in China's trade. Frank Fang, head of commercial banking of HSBC China, expects China's trade to become more active and significant after the first-ever China International Import Expo (CIIE).

"We certainly welcome and embrace the initiative of driving China import," Fang said.

The first CIIE will be held in Shanghai, which is one of the country's earliest cities to build economic ties with foreign countries. This shining jewel in China's economic crown did almost six trillion yuan (863 billion US dollars) in trade in 2017. 

The metropolis has a daily cash flow as high as 591 billion US dollars and Shanghai port has handled the highest volume of containers worldwide for seven consecutive years.

Connecting global companies and investors to China's fast-growing economy is part of Shanghai's DNA. And for more than 150 years, HSBC has played a role in helping Shanghai to become the gateway for trade and investment between China and global markets.

"We've been facilitating trade between China and outside world for many years. And we've been also helping the foreign investors coming into China to find the opportunities, and grow in the local market," Fang told CGTN.

He also hoped to see more international companies bring best products and services to CIIE, benefiting from the growth of Chinese economy.

"I hope that more companies will feel interested and encouraged to come to China, to bring with their best products or services, or even establish the operations in China," Fang said.

(CGTN's Lily Lyu also contributed to the story.)