The Sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's biggest import fair, wrapped up in Shanghai on November 10, with USD78.41 billion in deals signed, 6.74% higher than 2022's figure. A total of 154 countries, regions and international organizations attended the expo. In total, 3,486 global exhibitors, including 289 of the world's top 500 and industry-leading enterprises and 410,000 professional visitors, attended. The Prime Ministers of Australia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Serbia and the First Vice President of Iran also came to the fair. This edition of the CIIE fulfilled its function for international procurement, investment promotion, people-to-people exchanges and open cooperation, and made a positive contribution to creating a new development pattern and promoting world economic development, according to exhibitors and observers. The expo saw a 40% year-on-year rise in the number of small and medium-sized overseas companies attending. The U.S., Japan, Australia and South Korea all fielded their largest ever or highest level delegations to the CIIE.
Up to 442 new products, technologies and services made their debut at this year’s CIIE, Sun Chenghai, Deputy Director General of the CIIE Bureau, said, four more than the record of 438 last year. This year’s expo has set a record of 367,000 square meters of exhibition area. A total of 3,486 companies from 128 countries and regions participated in the CIIE. Up to 289 global Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders were present at the exhibition, also a record high.
A total of 11 countries were present at the CIIE for the first time this year, including Honduras, Zimbabwe and Bahrain. Zhang Xiong, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai municipal government, said at the news conference that representatives from 39 countries and regions showcased more than 300 innovative projects related to low-carbon green development, healthcare, the digital economy and innovative technologies this year, overtaking the scale of similar demonstrations during previous editions of the CIIE.
The 6th CIIE is being held just weeks after China successfully held the third Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation, drawing record attendance from Belt and Road partner countries to showcase their products and services. Out of the 72 national pavilions on display at the sixth CIIE, 64 are from Belt and Road partner countries. Gijs Sanders, Director of Strategy and Planning at UK-based consumer healthcare business Haleon, a spin-off of GSK, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview that the CIIE is a good platform to reach out to a professional audience, to deeply engage with consumers, and to meet peers to exchange ideas. China's imports of goods and services are expected to reach USD17 trillion in cumulative terms in the next five years, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said at the opening ceremony of the 6th CIIE on November 5, the Global Times and China Daily report.
About 200 companies have signed up for the seventh CIIE to be held in November next year, with the total booked exhibition area exceeding 100,000 sq m.
