Ambassador Lin Songtian addresses the ceremony.

The launch Ceremony of first China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as the “Expo”) hosted by the Chinese Embassy was held in Johannesburg, South Africa on May 18. H.E. Ambassador Lin Songtian attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Deputy Minister of Department of Small Business Development Cassel Mathale, Group COO of the department of Trade and Industry Jodi Scholtz, and more than 200 representatives from the South Africa and China business community attended the meeting.

Lin made the remarks at the ceremony themed “China’s New Measure to Further Opening Up”. “It is a major pioneering undertaking in the history of international trade,” Lin mentioned.

Deputy Minister of Department of Small Business Development Cassel Mathale addresses the ceremony.

“The Expo is the new outcome of China’s fast development,” said Lin, adding that the event will “create new opportunities for countries around the world to expand their export to China to achieve sound and fast development, and make new contribution to world durable peace and common development.”

“The International Import Expo will open another important opportunity for South Africa to further expand its export to China,” said Lin.

In the next 5 years, China will import goods worth 8 trillion US dollars, make 750 billion dollars of foreign direct investment, and register over 650 million person times of outbound overseas tourists.

More than 1,000 enterprises from over 120 countries and regions have signed up to attend the event, slated for Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai.