The 3rd China International Import Expo themed "New Era, Shared Future" was successfully held in accordance with the general requirements of “making continued success” despite negative impacts. Coordinated efforts have been made to deliver fruitful results while containing the coronavirus. The total area of the CIIE was nearly 360,000 square meters, about 30,000 square meters larger than that of the last one. Exhibitors from many countries and regions launched a large number of new products, new technologies and new services at the CIIE. 101 supporting activities were held. The CIIE attracted nearly 400,000 professional visitors and more than 3,000 domestic and foreign journalists, living up to the expectations of making a safe, splendid and successful expo.

First, the high-standard exhibition wins warm response at home and abroad.

On the evening of November 4, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the 3rd China International Import Expo and Hongqiao International Economic Forum. He stressed that all countries should work together to promote a mutual opening up featuring shared benefits, shared responsibility and shared governance. He pledged that China will stay committed to openness, cooperation and unity for win-win results, steadfastly expand all-round opening up and turn the China market into a market for the world, a market shared by all, and a market accessible to all, so as to bring more positive energy to the global economic recovery and development.

Han Zheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, Hu Chunhua, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Li Qiang, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, attended the opening ceremony in Shanghai. Eight heads of state and government of Pakistan, South Africa, Chile, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Spain, Papua New Guinea and Hungary, and the heads of four international organizations, including UNCTAD, the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Trade Organization, delivered video messages online. 231 ministerial-level officials from 145 countries and international organizations and 110 representatives of Global Fortune 500 companies and international think tanks attended the opening ceremony online, joined by 69 envoys and representatives of foreign countries and international organizations to China offline. Before the opening ceremony, Vice Premier Han Zheng and other leaders made a special tour of the business exhibition.

Second, the high-quality exhibition sees active participation by businesses around the world.

The total number of new products, new technologies, and new services making their debut at this year's CIIE is 411. Nearly 80% of the Global Fortune 500 enterprises and industry leaders have participated in the CIIE for three years in a row. The level of exhibition setup improves with 94% of special booths. Multiple ministries have launched support measures on tax incentives, customs clearance and market access, among others, which brings real benefits for exhibitors and buyers. The six exhibition zones in the 3rd CIIE are featured in different highlights.

The food and agricultural products zone has the largest number of exhibitors which totaled 1,264 from 93 countries. The automotive zone gathers the world's top seven auto companies and global Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders account for over 90% of the exhibition zone. The technology and equipment zone highlights automation, intelligent manufacturing, industrial digitalization, energy, overall solutions and others, showing the industry's innovative trends. The 90,000-m2 consumer goods zone is the largest one of the 3rd CIIE. The trade in services zone brings together global top players in finance, logistics, consulting, inspection and testing, culture and tourism, etc., creating intelligent service that empowers the whole industry chain. The medical device and healthcare zone unveiled over 120 new products and technologies, the largest number in the 3rd CIIE. For the first time, the public health and epidemic prevention zone was set up to display world’s leading public health and epidemic prevention products, technologies and services, which has drawn many enterprises and been enlarged several times.

Third, rich agenda and fruitful results.

101 side events for policy interpretation, business matching and investment promotion were held by international organizations such as UNIDO and WIPO, government departments such as MIIT and MOF, and sub-national departments, to contribute to deal-making, two-way investment and industrial cooperation. At the product launch section, 42 world-leading companies held launch events to display their latest products, technologies, and services by different themes and sectors. In fact, CIIE has become a top destination for new products, cutting-edge technologies and creative services to make their global debut. The trade and investment business-matching events, online and offline, provided professional services to 674 exhibitors and 1,351 buyers, and facilitated 861 intended cooperation projects. 10 investment promotions were held to help Italian Trade Agency and governments and businesses from Sichuan, Guizhou, and Zhejiang provinces promote investment opportunities. We also held various cultural activities. 100 world and national non-tangible heritage projects and 81 “China’s time-honored brands” made presentations. 49 charity cultural performances were given to display the culture and specialty of different localities. Countries like Russia, Italy, Portugal, Pakistan, Fiji, and Hungary posted photos and video clips on the CIIE website to promote their culture and customs as well as investment and development opportunities and enhance cultural exchanges and mutual learning.

Despite the ravaging COVID-19, participants at the 3rd CIIE were full of enthusiasm for cooperation. The cumulative intended deal on an annual basis reached USD72.62 billion, up by 2.1%.

Fourth, thoughtful services and better experience.

In addition to the routine containment measures, we implemented an overall plan for epidemic control and tailor-made safety schemes for the exhibition halls, in order to ensure safety of personnel, items, and venues at the CIIE.

Building on the past success, we made safety our top priority and explored new and better ways of service provision. We assembled a professional logistics team and designated staff to meet specific demands, from exhibits transportation to conference arrangements. We made the catering service more convenient. Through the order function of the CIIE app, one can easily order online and pick up at the store. We improved guidance. We expanded the coverage of signage and added 55,000 COVID-19 protocol signs, and handed out over 500,000 guidebooks. We made the entrance more smooth. Part of our strict containment measures include infrared temperature-taking devices, which allowed people to pass without feeling it or having to stop, yet in a traceable way. Altogether 650,000 person times entered the venue in this way. We employed more advanced digital technologies to provide services. We improved the smart guidance system and provided one-stop business processing platforms to make the exhibitions safer and the visitors more satisfied. Up to now, several hundreds of businesses have applied for or registered to join the 4th CIIE.

The 3rd CIIE, integrating virtual and physical exhibitions, is the largest international event with the most participating countries held in China as we maintain containment routines in the meantime. It is a testament to the remarkable achievements of China in epidemic control and economic and social development. It has served as platforms for sourcing, investment promotion, cultural exchanges, and openness and cooperation. Through the spillover effect of these platforms, exhibits have made their way to the markets, while exhibitors have found investment opportunities. The CIIE has also sent messages of wider opening-up and shared markets to the world, and underpinned the strategy to expand domestic demand and build a new paradigm of domestic and international circulations.

(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)