President Xi to hold welcome ceremony for Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a welcome ceremony for visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Thursday.

At the invitation of Xi, Putin is paying a state visit to China from Thursday to Friday. This is Putin's first state visit after he was sworn in as Russian president for a new term.

Putin arrived in Beijing early Thursday morning.

As this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Xi and Putin will exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of common concern during the visit, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Preparations are nearly complete for the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), set for November 5-10 in Shanghai, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said at a press conference that exhibits from over 2,700 participating companies have entered the exhibition halls, while those from more than 700 companies are still in transit and will arrive by Nov. 2.

To improve the experience for attendees, this year's CIIE has established 172 functional areas in 26 categories and added 1,523 temporary signs throughout the venue. The expo has also streamlined its registration and approval processes with a digital system.

"We are enhancing payment convenience by ensuring adequate small-denomination cash reserves, while expanding bank card transaction acceptance to include both domestic and international cards for the first time. Additionally, the expo will feature a 5,000-square-meter catering zone and offer food delivery services to all booths," said He.

The expo will also share comprehensive travel and service information via its official WeChat account, and upgrades have been made to the event's Hongqiao forum information system and the venue's navigation systems to enhance the attendee experience.

The seventh CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions and international organizations, and achieved a new record with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders set to attend.

Since its first edition in 2018, the expo has become an important showcase, spotlighting China's new development paradigm, a platform for high-standard opening up, and an opportunity for the whole world.