(Xinhua/Liu Ying)
From the sky, the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center, which will host the China International Import Expo (CIIE), looks like a “four-leaf clover”, patiently waiting for guests from around the world.
The 8th edition of CIIE will be held from November 5 to 10 in Shanghai, continuing its mission of promoting global trade and opportunity sharing.
This year, the focus is on countries in the Global South, recognized as key drivers of the global economy. For the first time, a sub-forum dedicated to the Global South will be organized, aiming to strengthen their economic resilience and focus on their sustainable agricultural development. In addition, the “2025 Global Opening Up Report”, which will be published during the Hongqiao Economic Forum, will include a special chapter on “opening up boosting the industrialization of the Global South”, proposing avenues for reconciling autonomy, technological security and sustainability.
Particular attention is paid to the least developed countries. For the first time, a space dedicated to their products has been created. This initiative, coupled with “zero customs duty” treatment for the least developed countries having established diplomatic relations with China as well as 53 African countries, aims to offer them better access to the vast Chinese market.
Global SMEs are also a focus. This year, more than 80 foreign trade associations and some 1,500 SMEs from more than 50 countries and regions will participate in the exhibition. To support them, the CIIE has improved its digital services and launched a cross-border trade platform, aiming to facilitate the integration of foreign SMEs into the Chinese market.
“Over the past seven years, the CIIE has enabled Rwandan chili, Ethiopian coffee and Nepalese cashmere to become the ‘favorites’ of Chinese households,” said Dorothy Tembo, deputy executive director of the International Trade Center, stressing that the CIIE allows SMEs around the world to take advantage of opportunities in the Chinese market.
Data shows that since the establishment of the CIIE in November 2018, its first seven editions have introduced around 3,000 new products, technologies and services, generated a volume of purchasing intentions exceeding $500 billion and attracted 23,000 foreign exhibitors.
