Exhibitors sign up for 360,000 sq m at 7th CIIE; confident in China's market potential, opening-up

More than 50 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the 7th edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), with companies signing up for 360,000 square meters of space, officials told reporters on Wednesday, as the 100-day countdown to the event approaches.

Exhibitors have high expectations for the expo and are fully confident in the opportunities presented by the vast Chinese market and China's high-level opening-up.

The event will be held in Shanghai from November 5-10, serving as a platform for China's high-level opening-up and offering an opportunity to share development opportunities with the world.

Trade groups and professional organizations are registering for the event at a faster pace than last year, Sun Chenghai, a deputy director of the CIIE Bureau, said during a press conference in Shanghai on Wednesday.

This year's CIIE consists of national exhibitions, business exhibitions and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum. 

With a high level of participation, more than 50 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation, including first-time participants such as Norway, Benin, Burundi and UNICEF.

Moreover, "more than 150 companies have signed up for the CIIE for a seventh consecutive year, while a number of Fortune 500 countries this year will be new attendees," Sun said

The business exhibitions will emphasize the potential of cutting-edge technology, with the establishment of a new materials zone. The vehicle exhibition area will focus on autonomous driving, the low-altitude economy and new-energy storage to showcase the key elements of future transportation.

The Hongqiao International Economic Forum will continue to shine a spotlight on opening-up, and promote inclusive and beneficial economic globalization. The event will coincide with the  release of the flagship World Openness Report 2024.

Shanghai will provide multiple-entry visas for foreign visitors and exhibitors, and it will also simplify customs approval procedures for exhibition-related goods, CIIE officials said.

A supply-demand matchmaking meeting was held on Wednesday, which was attended by more than 50 food and agricultural product exhibitors and at least 30 medical equipment and healthcare product exhibitors.

Cathy Jiang, CEO of La Vida Mia Global Co, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the company will work with business associations in Latin America to introduce new products, including cassava cakes from Dominica and chocolate from Ecuador to the CIIE this year.

"Many local brands in Latin America are hoping to use platforms like the CIIE to gradually open up the Chinese market," Jiang said.

Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) is signing up for the CIIE in hopes of bringing more deer antler and deer by-products to China's healthcare products market.

"The big Chinese market and the country's economic growth mean great opportunities for New Zealand deer products," Felix Shen, marketing manager of DINZ, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

France-based fermentation company Lesaffre told the Global Times on Wednesday that "the potential of the Chinese market is limitless." 

"We are well aware that demand in the Chinese market is constantly increasing, urbanization is on the rise, and people's expectations for better lives are growing. The Chinese economy is accelerating its recovery and showing a long-term positive trend, remaining the world's largest engine of development," Jo Yu, chief marketing officer of Lesaffre China, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Exhibitors at the CIIE also view the platform as a catalyst for innovation.

This year, Siemens Healthineers will present the largest number of exhibits in its history at the CIIE, with more new products on display than ever before.

"We hope to leverage the influence of the CIIE to accelerate the implementation of cutting-edge global medical achievements in China, and to help promote the high-quality development of the medical industry," Lena Wang, vice president of Siemens Healthineers for greater China, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

During previous CIIEs, Boston Scientific had 16 innovative products approved in China to meet the diverse needs of Chinese patients.

The CIIE demonstrates China's strong commitment to promoting high-level opening-up, which reinforces our confidence in expanding investment in China, said Da Bo, vice president of Boston Scientific China. The company is building its first manufacturing base in China in the Lingang New Area in Shanghai.

The 6th CIIE concluded with tentative deals of $78.41 billion, a record high, in 2023, demonstrating China's vital role in the international market and its unswerving determination to open up its market and share the benefits of its growth with the rest of the world.