First list of participating companies for 7th CIIE unveiled

The first list of 252 companies and institutions to participate in the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) was announced on Thursday, the exhibition's 200-day countdown.

The initial group of exhibitors comprises enterprises and institutions that are early birds to sign contracts with the event and have reserved relatively larger exhibition spaces, such as Swiss food company Nestle and German company Siemens.

The exhibition will continue to set six sections covering food and agricultural products, automobiles, technical equipment, consumer goods, medical equipment and healthcare, and trade in services, alongside some special zones like innovation incubation.

The CIIE is the world's first import-themed national-level expo. The 7th CIIE is scheduled for November 5 to 10 in Shanghai.

First list of participating companies for 7th CIIE unveiled

The death toll has risen to 24 after part of an expressway collapsed in south China's Guangdong Province, causing 20 vehicles to plunge, on early Wednesday morning, local authorities said.

Another 30 people are receiving hospital treatment, with none in life-threatening condition, according to the government of the province's Meizhou city.

The incident happened around 02:10 on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in Meizhou. The collapsed section is 17.9 meters long and covers an area of 184.3 square meters, officials said.

Aerial photos show one side of the expressway caved in, causing vehicles to roll down a slope.

The accident did not involve any large vehicles or vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals, according to officials.

24 dead after road collapse in south China's Guangdong