‍‍It's been over two years since Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the opening of an import expo, the first national expo in the world centered on imports. 

The clock has started to count down to the China International Import Expo (CIIE), and companies from over 130 countries and regions have registered and geared up to seek business opportunities in the Chinese market. 

Along with world leaders, Xi will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the CIIE on November 5 in the country's financial hub of Shanghai, signifying China's readiness to further open its market to foreign investors. 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. Faced with the anti-globalization challenge, Xi has strongly defended multilateralism and free trade. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in 2017, Xi told world leaders that China has not only benefited from economic globalization but also will contribute to it. China will promote “inclusive globalization” and deliver prosperity worldwide, he stressed. 

At this year's Boao Forum, Xi acknowledged the role of foreign capital in China's growth over the past few decades. He said China will only open its door "wider and wider" to foreign investors. The economic globalization is an irreversible trend and China will continue to adhere to its policy of opening up and the door will only open wider, he stressed. 

The CIIE also symbolizes the win-win cooperation that China has long championed in its foreign policy, Robert Kuhn, a leading Chinese expert says. 

When he was stressing African leaders at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing in September, Xi said China will increase imports, particularly non-resource products, from Africa, and will exempt the least developed African countries participating in the expo from paying exhibition stand fees.