China calls for political settlement of Korean Peninsula issue: spokesman

Maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and promoting a political settlement of the peninsula issue serve the common interests of all parties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday at a regular press briefing in Beijing

Lin made the remarks in response to a query from the media on the testing-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday morning.

"China has noticed the related reports. As a close neighbor of the Korean peninsula, China is following the developments on the Korean Peninsula. China has always believed that maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and promoting the political settlement of the peninsular issue are in the common interests of all parties. We hope that all parties will make efforts to this end," Lin said.

Preparations are nearly complete for the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), set for November 5-10 in Shanghai, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said at a press conference that exhibits from over 2,700 participating companies have entered the exhibition halls, while those from more than 700 companies are still in transit and will arrive by Nov. 2.

To improve the experience for attendees, this year's CIIE has established 172 functional areas in 26 categories and added 1,523 temporary signs throughout the venue. The expo has also streamlined its registration and approval processes with a digital system.

"We are enhancing payment convenience by ensuring adequate small-denomination cash reserves, while expanding bank card transaction acceptance to include both domestic and international cards for the first time. Additionally, the expo will feature a 5,000-square-meter catering zone and offer food delivery services to all booths," said He.

The expo will also share comprehensive travel and service information via its official WeChat account, and upgrades have been made to the event's Hongqiao forum information system and the venue's navigation systems to enhance the attendee experience.

The seventh CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions and international organizations, and achieved a new record with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders set to attend.

Since its first edition in 2018, the expo has become an important showcase, spotlighting China's new development paradigm, a platform for high-standard opening up, and an opportunity for the whole world.