The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is demonstrating growing appeal as an increasing number of countries have opened their national pavilions during the first two days of the ongoing 7th edition in Shanghai.
The expo has also seen the debut of a wide array of new products and technologies.
Countries including Indonesia, Norway, and Brazil held opening ceremonies for their national pavilions on Wednesday. For Norway, this marks the first time the country is participating in the country-by-country portion of the expo.
At the opening ceremony, Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Marianne Sivertsen Næss highlighted the country's high-quality aquatic products, with visitors wrapping dumplings with Norwegian fish to celebrate the upcoming Start of Winter solar term in China.
The Norwegian pavilion also featured leading companies across industries like maritime, energy, design, and healthcare.
Slovakia, another newcomer, inaugurated its national pavilion on Tuesday, the expo's opening day, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Denisa Sakova expressing hope that the expo would continue to provide an important platform for showcasing the best and latest Slovak products to Chinese consumers.
Since its initiation in 2018, the CIIE has been held every year without interruption, evolving from a one-way invitation from China to a mutually beneficial platform for global engagement, with each edition symbolizing collaborative commitment.
The expo's rising appeal is reflected in the positive feedback from international leaders.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the CIIE offers opportunities for global enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to demonstrate their capabilities and attract investments, and also provides a stage for all parties to attract investment and expand opportunities.
Similarly, Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted the expo's role as a crucial platform for enhancing international economic collaboration.
Voices from global leaders reflect the CIIE's embodiment of China's commitment to openness and inclusivity, as well as the attractiveness of its vast market.
In addition, the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum will continue to hold a number of sub-forums and a series of supporting activities on Wednesday, focusing on topics such as the silver economy, industrial chain and supply chain cooperation, and intellectual property protection, with political, business and academic representatives from all over the world contributing to discussions on improving global economic governance.
The CIIE is the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports. Running from November 5 to 10 under the theme of "New Era, Shared Future," the 7th CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions and international organizations to participate in its country exhibition and business exhibition.
Among them, nearly 3,500 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions are taking part in the business exhibition, while a record number of 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders are attending the event.
A total of 77 countries and international organizations are participating in the country exhibition, which serves as an important platform for showcasing the comprehensive image of various nations and opportunities in trade and investment.
More than 400 new products, technologies and services are set to be unveiled during the six-day expo, which experts say indicates foreign companies' confidence in the Chinese market amid a sluggish global economic recovery.
CIIE's rising appeal evident as more countries open national pavilions
