Global company leaders, scholars, and specialists gathered in Shanghai ahead of the opening of the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Wednesday, seeking new partnerships and market opportunities as the world’s largest import-themed event got underway.
This year's CIIE, running until November 10, opened in Shanghai on Wednesday, and features the largest exhibition space in its history and brings together a record 4,108 enterprises from 138 countries and regions across the world.
Since its inception, the CIIE has stood as a vital gateway for foreign companies to tap new partnership opportunities with China, linking international enterprises with China's super-sized market.
"I want to grab the chance to talk to as many people as possible. That's why I come so early. This morning [there were] about 10 people just different businesses, friends from all all over the place. We will have most people in our booth, actually. We'll invite people to come, to expedite the communication and the collaboration at its best," said Tino Zeiske, CEO of Metro AG China, the China division of the leading German retail group.
"We are very pleased that these products now are localized in China -- fully localized. We also export to 220 countries out of China. China's new plan communicates that very clearly: innovation, integration, global collaboration. So I really see this as a great opportunity, win-win," said Laurent Leksell, board chairman of Elekta, a global medical radiation device manufacturer.
"We're also presenting a white paper on the new product issue. I've got it. I've got a copy of it here. Actually, I think it's a great platform for all companies to benefit and get connections for every part of the supply chain, all the connections here. It's very good," said Roy Van Den Hurk, chief executive of dairy company Theland.
China's policies, including the just-released Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, was one of the key focus for the participants, who saw significant market opportunities within it.
"What is foreseen in terms of green development in the 15th Five-Year Plan would be [its] importance to investments in China and in the world. We are still undergoing the studies we have to do about the Five-Year Plan," said the ambassador of Portugal to China, Paulo Jorge Pereira do Nascimento.
"The government tries to more encourage consumer consumption [among] the Chinese silver generation. We are very happy to have this opportunity. We can support the community of the silver generation, also customize this technology into the Chinese silver generation society," said Toshinobu Umetsu, President and CEO of Shiseido China, Japanese cosmetics giant.
"In Qingdao, yes, this is the phase-three investment. And additional investment that we are committing today is 136 million U.S. dollars. We are confident in China's growth and outlook, because China is a great place to manufacture [with] its competitive manufacturing ecosystem," said Iskra Reic, executive vice president of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.
"I'm certain that the new Five-Year Plan will answer to the challenges and find a way to make China more developed, particularly in the sense of quality of development," said Vahe Gevorgyan, ambassador of Armenia to China.
Held annually in Shanghai since 2018, the CIIE is the world's first import-themed national-level exhibition. The previous seven editions of the expo have cumulatively attracted 23,000 overseas exhibitors.
Global business leaders gather at CIIE to seek partnerships, tap into China market
