Chinese organizers hold pitch event in New York to promote upcoming import expo

Organizers of the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) held a pitch event in New York on Wednesday to promote the expo which is slated for November in Shanghai among U.S. businesses and corporations.

The CIIE is one of China's biggest trade fairs, with a focus on imports. It provides a platform for international brands, and allows Chinese consumers access to a wider variety of high-quality goods.

"U.S. and China, our economies are highly complementary, and we need each other," said Huang Ping, the Chinese Consul General in New York.

Eric Zheng, who oversees the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, said having efficient trade channels with minimized barriers to trade is of utterly importance.

"Trade is good for both sides. We know for a fact that trade between countries is good for everybody. Now we all know in the past few years we went through a difficult period when there was a trade war between the U.S. and China. And there were higher tariffs imposed on products from both countries. So, as a business you don't want to see more tariffs, you want to sell more to other markets. And for U.S. companies, we love to market our products to the China market because China is growing-it has 1.4 billion people," said Zheng.

Among the invited businesses were well-known American brand names which will be at this year's CIIE.

"PepsiCo attaches great importance to our cooperation with CIIE and Hongqiao Forum, reflecting our long-term commitment to being in China, for China and with China," said Caroline Berson, vice president of Global Public Policy and Government Affairs of PepsiCo.

Cosmetics giant Estee Lauder considers China as one of the main markets, and is looking to use the CIIE platform to expand its footprint in the country, according to a company executive.

"And I know that she would have loved to see how we were doing this in China today. Our company began our China journey in 1993, with our first sales counters in Shanghai. And for over 30 years we've grown to serve millions of consumers in over 600 cities across China. We employ approximately 7,500 people in China, the majority of whom are women," said Jane Lauder, executive vice president of Estee Lauder Companies.

All sides signed a declaration of intent to make this year's CIIE the biggest and best ever.

In 2023, over 200 American firms and entities took part in the CIIE - including - for the first time the U.S. Federal government which built a pavilion dedicated to agriculture that attracted a lot of interest. Over 500 million dollars' worth of U.S. products were sold into the Chinese market at the sixth CIIE last year.

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

Chinese organizers hold pitch event in New York to promote upcoming import expo

Chinese organizers hold pitch event in New York to promote upcoming import expo

A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Lai Ching-te has sent "a dangerous signal" of seeking "Taiwan independence" and making provocations to undermine cross-Strait peace and stability in his speech upon assuming the role of Taiwan region's new leader on Monday.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, described Lai's speech as one that stubbornly followed the "Taiwan independence" stance, wantonly advocated separatism, incited cross-Strait confrontation and sought independence by relying on foreign support and by force.

Chen said the mainstream public aspiration on the island is for peace and development, instead of war and recession, while Lai has ignored the public opinion, exposing his nature of being "a worker for Taiwan independence."

The current complex and grave situation across the Strait is rooted in the fact that the Democratic Progressive Party has stubbornly stuck to the separatist stance of "Taiwan independence," rejected the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, and kept colluding with external forces to make provocations of seeking "Taiwan independence," Chen said.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, said Chen, stressing that "Taiwan independence" and peace across the Strait are incompatible as fire and water.

"We have firm determination to resolve the Taiwan question and realize national reunification; we have strong capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity; and we will take resolute actions to fight separatist activities seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external interference," he said.

"We will never tolerate any 'Taiwan independence' separatist acts in any form," said Chen.

China must and will be reunified, Chen stressed. No matter how the situation on the island changes and who assumes the regional leader, it will not change the fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, or impede the historical trend of national reunification, he said.

"We will fully implement the Party's overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, work together with Taiwan compatriots to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and cross-Strait integrated development, and resolutely advance the reunification of the motherland," said Chen.

Mainland says Lai sends "dangerous signal" in speech as Taiwan's new leader