Innovations in logistics, services shine at 8th CIIE

The eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai features a sprawling exhibition area for the international trade in services.

Spanning over 30,000 square meters, the hall is a convergence point for the flow of people, goods, and capital, with exhibitors demonstrating cutting-edge solutions that bring the world closer together.

A key theme at the expo is the dramatic acceleration of international logistics. One exhibitor presented a conceptual automated sorting system that promises to revolutionize international shipping. With a simple scan of a QR code on a smartphone, a robotic arm and an automated vehicle work in perfect sync to process a package. The system is designed to sort over 1,000 parcels per hour with 99 percent accuracy.

The focus on advanced logistics extends to large-scale air freight. A full-size cargo plane mock-up allows visitors to step inside and see the future of air transport. A large screen inside displays the diverse range of goods already being transported, from fresh cherries to precious cultural artifacts like the Terracotta Warriors. An interactive display shows a "one-click" ordering system for shipping specialized cargo, including fresh produce, live animals, valuable items, and urgent parcels, hinting at even more customized shipping options to come.

Beyond moving goods, global service providers are also enhancing the travel experience itself. Cathay Pacific puts up its premium in-flight dining, which brings China's rich culinary heritage to the skies.

"This is offered in the business class cabins on all flights from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland, and it has been available since April this year. The reason we introduce the Eight Great Cuisines [of China] to the CIIE is that we can draw more experience here. We are also eager to bring China's culinary culture onto our long-haul flights [to destinations around the globe], so as to spread Chinese food culture throughout the world," said Zhang Lei, a senior chef with the Customer Experience Department of Cathay Pacific.

The theme of intelligent logistics is also gamified at the Cosco Shipping booth, where a claw machine game allows visitors to try and "catch" a valuable container from the Port of Chancay in Peru. The game cleverly demonstrates the precision and advanced technology involved in the port's container unloading process.

The real-world performance of the Chancay Port is just as impressive. Since its launch, the port has already posted significant cargo and trade volumes, underscoring its growing importance in global trade.

"From the inauguration of the Chancay Port in November 2024 to September this year, we had handled a total container volume of 237,000 TEUs. Data from the Peruvian Customs show that from January to September this year, the total import and export trade value through the Chancay Port reached 1.587 billion U.S. dollars. In the future, we will continue to improve our service network to build the Chancay Port into an international logistics hub connecting the Far East to the west coast of South America," said Chen Lihui, president of Cosco Shipping Ports Peru Chancay S.A.

From instant ordering to global delivery, the trade in services exhibition at the CIIE demonstrates a world where distances are getting shorter and goods are going farther. The innovations on display serve as a window into the scale, resilience, and potential of the Chinese economy, which saw its goods trade with the world grow by 4 percent in the first three quarters of 2025.

Innovations in logistics, services shine at 8th CIIE

The United States is experiencing a sharp and sustained slump in international tourism, as political rhetoric, tougher immigration policies, tariffs, and travel bans combine to erode the country's image as a welcoming destination.

Tourism Economics, a travel research firm, projected a steep 8.2 percent fall in international arrivals into the U.S. for 2025, with total inbound spending expected to decline by 4.2 percent -- a loss of 8.3 billion U.S. dollars in visitor spending.

Tariffs had already driven up costs and created uncertainty around imported goods, and the latest slump in international travel is making it even harder for local businesses to stay afloat. The situation has fueled fears of further job cuts in hotels, gift shops and dining businesses.

Restaurants, even in some of Los Angeles' most popular districts, are struggling to cope with rising operating costs and fewer foreign tourists.

"We hope that the tariffs are just temporary. It seems like it's this game that's being played right now, and unfortunately there are real life ramifications from this game. We are holding tight, just because we don't know what's gonna happen," said Pierro Sanchez, general manager of a restaurant named Baja Cantina.

The weakening outlook has been compounded by more complicated visa procedures and heightened policy uncertainty, reinforcing concerns that the United States is becoming harder and less inviting to visit.

Hicham Jaddoud, a professor of Hospitality and Tourism at the Bovard College of the University of Southern California, said many travelers now choose other destinations as the country's image has been undermined.

"We do have a PR problem, mainly from the tourism and hospitality area, where we struggle with the U.S. image right now. A lot of consumers have moved to different destinations," he said.

The professor added that cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami are among the hardest hit, forcing local tourism sector to redirect marketing away from global travelers toward domestic visitors.

"They can't rely on international tourism, advertising or marketing dollars have shifted from international to local, and we don't know how long that is going to last. And we all know about how some Canadians are refusing to come here, even if things go back to normal, they are refusing to come back here," he said.

US tourism slumps as policies tighten, image worsens