Many exhibitions and expos in China have become important platforms and indicators for the global consumer market, attracting leading companies worldwide to showcase their latest technologies, products, and innovative capabilities, according to a foreign social media influencer and business leaders.
At a roundtable, they discussed how international trades are boosted by expos including China International Import Expo (CIIE), China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE).
"I especially like to visit the CIIE. I must go there every year, because it's such an interesting open platform. I remember one year, in China, a French chef cooked a steak from New Zealand with thick broad-bean sauce produced in Pixian County for New Zealand's Ambassador to China. Is this a very interesting story? This brings many opportunities for trade and cultural exchanges. It's wonderful," said Antoine S. Bunel, a French food and health influencer.
In addition, these expos promote high-standard cooperation and construction in various sectors, said Christelle Chene, who comes from Burgundy, a famous wine region in France and now is the international affairs director of Xige Winery in Ningxia.
"I'm very impressed that in October last year, we were the only Chinese winery invited to participate in the CISCE. Via the expo, the wine industry is linked with the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries and involves various upstream and downstream sectors. So, I think participating in the expo is very meaningful," said Christelle Chene.
Thanks to these expos, their brands have been widely recognized by consumers, added other business leaders in the roundtable.
"I remember that at the 2019 China International Import Expo, we participated as the only senior care service company. We were also interviewed by the media at the CIFTIS. After the interview was broadcast, many people saw it and came to us," said Benoit Garcin, CEO of Orpea China, a subsidiary of French major nursing home operator Orpea Group.
The CIIE is a trade fair held in autumn annually since 2018 in Shanghai, China. It is the world's first import-themed national-level expo.
The CIFTIS is the only all-inclusive international level fair dedicated to trade in services in China. It covers the 12 service areas defined by the World Trade Organization (WTO), and is the largest trade in services exhibition in the world.
Unlike traditional expos, the CISCE is an open international platform that integrates the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, connects small, medium-sized and large businesses, promotes collaboration between industry and academia and research units, and facilitates interactions between Chinese and foreign companies.
Expos in China become intriguing marketplaces for global traders
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi made a hard landing in Iran's northwestern province of East Azerbaijan on Sunday, state-run IRIB TV reported.
Raisi’s helicopter was part of a convoy of three helicopters which was on its way from Khoda Afarin County, where Raisi had attended the inauguration ceremony of a storage dam along with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, to the provincial capital Tabriz where Raisi was scheduled to attend the inauguration of a petrochemical complex, according to the report.
"On May 19 local time, the helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi made a hard landing in East Azerbaijan in northwestern Iran. According to our investigation in Iran, the incident took place near the Varzaghan area of East Azerbaijan. From the live broadcast on Iranian national television, we can see that the entire area of the accident site is in a state of severe foggy weather, which caused great trouble to the search and rescue work. In addition to Iranian President Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the governor of East Azerbaijan Province, and other officials and entourage were also on the helicopter," said Li Jiannan, a CCTV reporter in Iran.
Speaking to IRIB TV, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi attributed the helicopter's rough landing to the unfavorable weather conditions, which he said also impacted search and rescue work.
The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society Pirhossein Kolivand told IRIB TV that 40 rapid reaction teams had rushed to the scene and were monitoring the region while noting that there were difficulties in reaching the scene by land or by air due to the mountainous terrain and the bad weather conditions.
Kolivand, however, said drones were being used to search the region.
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri has ordered the army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the police to make all-out efforts to search for and rescue the president and his accompanying team, said the Iran Newspaper.
Speaking to IRIB TV, Iranian Health Minister Bahram Einollahi said medical teams had been stationed near the possible crash site.
Iranian government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi said in a post on social media platform X that Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and several cabinet members were on their way to Tabriz after a meeting in Tehran.
Following the incident, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei expressed his hope that President Raisi and accompanying officials would be able to return home safely, saying that everyone should pray for them. Iranian people do not need to worry, and the work of the country and the government will not be affected, he said.
Following reports of the incident, leaders of neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan and Iraq, expressed concern over the developments and said they were ready to assist in search and rescue efforts.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the same day, saying that Türkiye is following the incident and hopes that Iranian President Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdollahian and other Iranian officials are safe and healthy. Türkiye has taken action to provide support for the search and rescue operation, the statement said.
Iranian president's helicopter makes hard landing in NW province
