Chinese Vice President Han Zheng announced the start of the fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) and the "Shopping in China" campaign in Haikou City of south China's Hainan Province on Sunday.
The launching ceremony was joined by around 1,000 people, including leaders of relevant countries and heads of relevant international organizations.
Britain's Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander, who is representative of Britain as this year's guest country of honor, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Denisa Sakova, and Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization Zhang Xiangchen, delivered speeches at the event.
Before the launching ceremony, Han visited the exhibition venue and interacted with exhibitors.
China has a population of over 1.4 billion, a vast market, and a strong driving force for upgrading consumption, said Han, noting that China welcomes enterprises from various countries to invest and operate in China, use the China International Consumer Products Expo to expand influence of their brands, deepen economic and trade cooperation, and achieve mutually beneficial results.
More than 1,700 companies from over 70 countries and regions are participating in the fifth CICPE, showcasing over 4,100 brands.
Chinese vice president announces start of consumer products expo, "Shopping in China" campaign
A conference on cross-Strait integrated development opened in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan in southwest China, on Tuesday, focusing on industrial cooperation, youth employment and support to Taiwan businesses on the mainland for better growth.
In his opening speech, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated that the stable and positive development of the mainland economy provides broader opportunities for deepening cross-Strait integration.
He criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for their insistence on making barriers which harm the competitiveness of enterprises in Taiwan region, and stirring up anti-mainland sentiment that deprives the compatriots in Taiwan of their right to development.
He said those who seek to divide the country are traitors to the Chinese nation, and those who provoke division across the Taiwan Strait will ultimately backfire.
He emphasized that the Chinese mainland will continue to improve policies and systems to promote cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges, expand communication, and deepen integrated development.
On Monday, Song met with Liu Chao-shiuan, co-president of the Cross-Strait CEO Summit.
During the meeting, Liu said that U.S. President Donald Trump's disregard for established trade rules and his start of a global trade war had led to the mainland's resolute countermeasures, which provided other economies with confidence and strength to resist U.S. economic bullying.
He stressed that cross-Strait businesses should strengthen cooperation, turn crises into opportunities, and contribute to the growth of the Chinese economy.
Conference on cross-Strait integrated development opens in Sichuan
