Advertisement
Electric & new energy vehicles
BusinessChina Business

CIIE: Beijing kicks off countdown by appointing business delegates for first import expo after zero-Covid policy exit

  • Government-led delegations will play a major role in buying goods and services, CIIE Bureau official says
  • Organiser says 3,000 exhibitors will display their latest products and services at this year’s event, but does not reveal a target deal size for the expo

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
A file photo of the China International Import Expo in Shanghai from last November. A total of 2,800 companies from 130 countries and regions took part in the event last year. Photo: Xinhua
Daniel Renin Shanghai
Beijing has mobilised 39 business delegations to ensure the purchase of goods and services at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai in November, in its latest effort to maintain strong economic ties with foreign businesses and head off any chance of a decoupling with the West.
Advertisement
The organisers of CIIE, the world’s largest import trade fair, said on Friday they would invite “more buyers that are welcomed by the exhibitors” to spur transactions during the six-day event, which will be held without China’s strict anti-coronavirus pandemic curbs for the first time since 2019.

China’s ministry of commerce has also asked 500 key companies to host business meetings with foreign exhibitors in the hope that huge purchase deals can be concluded at the expo, which runs from November 5 to 10 and will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre.

“Government-led delegations will play a major role [in buying goods and services],” said Yang Bo, an official with the CIIE Bureau, which is part of the commerce ministry. “We will also partner with more companies in different industries to promote businesses.”
The expo, which was inaugurated in 2018 at the behest of Chinese President Xi Jinping, aims to spur purchases of imported goods and services by mainland Chinese companies as a way of showing Beijing’s willingness to further open up its markets.
Advertisement

The CIIE Bureau said 3,000 exhibitors will display their latest products and services at this year’s event, covering a total area of more than 360,000 square metres.

03:33

China and Australia hold high-level talks after 3-year break

China and Australia hold high-level talks after 3-year break
Advertisement