Foreign participants hope to keep promoting global cooperation via CIIE

Diplomatic envoys and foreign representatives participating the ongoing 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai expressed their willingness to continue the partnership with the CIIE to promote global openness and cooperation.

Business negotiations and exchanges intensively continued in the National Exhibition and Convention Center on Saturday, the fifth day of the world's first national-level import-themed professional trade fair.

This year's CIIE for the first time held an exchange event for organizers of all parties participating in the country exhibition, contributing to mutual learning between different cultures and global economic and trade cooperation.

A total of 73 countries and four international organizations have joined in this session of CIIE, a growth from the previous year. The number of African countries that have set up pavilions has reached a record high of 20.

The foreign participants highlighted the important role of the event in promoting their specialty products and boosting trade agreements, saying that they are hopeful of strengthening ties with the Chinese market.

"We reach agreements for purchases of bananas and shrimps to China. It was very successful and I really wish to come back next year," said Jorge Cevallos, commercial counselor of the Ecuadorian Embassy in China.

"I have seen the number of Swiss companies going up. They showed their new products which are produced in China, developed in China. We have more and more companies which are interested," said Swiss ambassador to China Jurg Burri.

"We do have like better agreements, and we connect better with the market and with China. So hopefully, next year we will be here again," said Graciela Doebel, representative of the organizer of Uruguay national exhibition at 7th CIIE.

All matchmaking events for trade and investment at this year's CIIE ended on Saturday. More than 3,500 companies carried out on-site or offline trade negotiations, reaching more than 260 cooperation intentions in equipment manufacturing, food and agricultural products, consumer goods and other fields, with the total value exceeding 9.4 billion U.S. dollars.

The 7th CIIE, which runs from Tuesday to Sunday, has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions this year. The event also marks a significant milestone with the participation of 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and leading industry players from around the world.

Foreign participants hope to keep promoting global cooperation via CIIE

A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.

The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.

"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.

The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.

"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.

"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.

Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.

This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.

Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit