French corporate leaders appreciate innovation, opening up of Chinese market

The French corporate leaders attending the ongoing 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) said they are enthusiastic about investing in the increasingly innovative Chinese market and they hope the two countries will share a greater future as China keeps expanding opening up.

France as one of the guests of honor of this year's CIIE has brought 19 companies to the expo held in Shanghai.

The attending French companies said they expect this event will help promote French technologies and manufacturing goods to the world and also help strengthen their cooperation with the Chinese counterparts.

"China also invests in the innovations. I mean innovation is very active. So, we cooperate with government, of course, in China. We also cooperate with private companies. We have a lot of joint ventures for instance in China. I'm sure we have to find a win-win cooperation," said Ludovic Weber, APAC CEO of Saint-Gobain, a material and solution provider.

Denis Vergneau, general manager of SINODIS, said the French dessert company is increasing its investment in China and hopes to strengthen cooperation as well.

"We are investing in people, investing in plans, investing in products, investing in innovation to better collaborate, to better share, to better exchange," he said.

As China keeps opening its market to the world, attending French companies said they believe the two countries will have a better future as they march hand in hand.

"I was as usual amazed by the collective energy and I really hope and I really believe. This is going to drive our future together," said Eric Vallat, CEO of Remy Cointreau, a spirit company.

"Everything China can do to open up is very positive. The more China can open the doors the better it is. So, we are very confident about the future," said Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman of Board of Directors of L'Oreal.

The 6-day event, which will close on Sunday, has seen fruitful results, with nearly 600 deals secured, over 400 new product debuts, and 80 loyal exhibitors signing up for next year's event.

French corporate leaders appreciate innovation, opening up of Chinese market

A new direct passenger flight route from Ningbo City of east China's Zhejiang Province to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh opened on Wednesday, which also marked the first international flight out of the city's airport in 2025.

The new flight departs from the Ningbo Lishe International Airport at 13:30 and takes just under four and a half hours to reach the Cambodian capital. Operated by Cambodian airlines, it is scheduled to fly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with the return flight departing Phnom Penh at 07:40 local time on the same days.

The direct route provides an important travel option for tourists, especially those from Ningbo and the surrounding areas. Pang Cuili, a Ningbo resident who had to transit in Shanghai for a midnight arrival in Phnom Penh, said the new service now offers much greater convenience.

"We'll fly at 13:30 and arrive at around 16:50. It’s very convenient [timing] for us to check into the hotel after arriving," she said.

As the capital and largest city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has long been an important international aviation hub in Southeast Asia, with the new route giving a further boost to the economic and cultural exchanges between Ningbo and ASEAN countries.

"Today marks the first flight of Ningbo Airport's regular direct passenger service to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The opening of this route is also an important move for the airport to help implement the Belt and Road Initiative, enriching international passenger transport routes, and further speeding up the recovery of the international market," said Chen Qiaoyu, manager of the Market Development Department at the Ningbo Lishe International Airport.

As Cambodia Airlines' first route out of Ningbo Airport, the new service also signals the airline's broader plans to connect various parts of China with Cambodia in the coming year.

Ningbo airport launches first direct flight to Phnom Penh