Customs clearance done for overseas exhibits at CIIE

The customs clearance for exhibits from across the world that are to be displayed at the upcoming 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) has been mostly completed, according to the Shanghai Customs.

Held annually in Shanghai since 2018, the CIIE is the world's first import-themed national-level exhibition. The 8th CIIE will be held from Nov 5 to 10, featuring 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters.

As of Monday, the Shanghai Customs had supervised 307 shipments of exhibits valued at 380 million yuan (about 53.36 million U.S. dollars).

Since November 1, the ports in Shanghai have handled an average of nearly 130,000 daily passenger entries and exits, up 22.2 percent year on year, with 63,000 inbound arrivals, a 19.7 percent increase.

This year, six countries, namely Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Georgia, Sweden and Colombia, will be the guests of honor.

The 8th CIIE continues to feature six major exhibition areas, namely medical equipment and healthcare products, automobiles and smart mobility, intelligent industry and information technology, consumer goods, food and agricultural products, and trade in services, as well as an innovation incubation special section.

The expo will display 461 new products, technologies and services. Around 290 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders will participate in the expo.

The 8th Hongqiao International Economic Forum, an important part of the CIIE, will also take place from Wednesday to Monday under the theme of "Opening Up for New Opportunities, Collaborating for a Shared Future," featuring 33 sub-forums and closed-door meetings on key issues ranging from trade, multilateralism, to the Global South.

According to the organizer, the forum will attract nearly 10,000 participants and more than 400 guests from political, business, and academic circles around the world will deliver speeches, including world renowned Nobel laureates and entrepreneurs from emerging sci-tech companies.

The World Openness Report 2025, an annual report measuring the level of openness of countries around the world, will be released during the forum. Multiple Chinese ministries, international organizations, and think tanks will also release a series of their latest research findings during the forum.

Customs clearance done for overseas exhibits at CIIE

Customs clearance done for overseas exhibits at CIIE

Bilateral relations between China and Seychelles are entering a new phase of expansion, driven by rising trade volumes and growing collaboration in private sector, as well as emerging cooperation in the blue economy and digital innovation.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng is paying a visit to Seychelles and two other African countries of Kenya and South Africa from March 22 to 30.

The year of 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Seychelles.

In 1976, Seychelles became a sovereign nation. China was among the first nations to officially recognize the archipelago country's independence from British rule, marking the beginning of a long friendship that has later transformed the small island state in the Indian Ocean.

"This 50th anniversary will allow us to take stock of what we have achieved in different fields, education, health, infrastructure, economy, culture, environment and other areas," Vincent Meriton, former vice president of Seychelles, said in an interview via video link.

In 2024, at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the relations between the two countries hit a new peak as the ties were officially elevated to a strategic partnership.

Available data showed that bilateral trade between the two countries has maintained a strong momentum, reaching 84 million U.S. dollars in 2024. China mainly exports high-tech products such as smart phones, high-end camera systems, and mechanical and electric products, among others. Seychelles primarily exports seafood.

The future development of the bilateral ties is now turning offshore as both nations are looking toward blue economy. They are working together on sustainable fisheries and protection for the very ocean that feeds Seychelles.

Chinese vice president's visit to Seychelles to further enhance bilateral ties