Merchants from Australia introduce their products at an event aiming to establish relationship between customers and merchants before CIIE

A Chinese government official has said that the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) will create more opportunities for extensive and in-depth trade cooperation between Pakistan and China.

Gao Zhiqiang, head of the Sales and Marketing Department of China’s International Import Expo Bureau has said that Pakistan and China’s economies are complementary to each other and this has been testified by close business and trade relations.

Business and trade relations between Pakistan and China have intensified in recent years and as long as companies from both countries are willing to engage in more extensive and in-depth corporation then more opportunities will emerge from these interactions.

While briefing a delegation of foreign journalists from Asian and African countries about China’s first upcoming International Import Expo, Gao Zhiqiang said the China International Import Expo will create opportunities in the areas of business, trade, culture and people to people exchange.

The official said that less developed countries can also benefit from this opportunity.

“We will do our utmost to help companies get their business and benefits, and facilitate companies to find suitable business partners,” he said, adding, “I believe homegrown or homemade products of participating countries will be very popular at the expo. Indigenous products from Pakistan and other countries with distinct qualities would be popular.”

The arrangements for the First China International Import Expo are well underway, the event commencing at the National Exhibition and Convention Center on November 5th in Shanghai.

Ms. Zhong Xiaomin, Deputy Director General of the China International Import Expo Bureau has informed journalists that it is a significant move for the Chinese government to hold the CIIE to give firm support to trade liberalization and economic globalization and actively open the Chinese market to the world.

It facilitates countries and regions all over the world to strengthen economic cooperation and trade, and promotes global trade and world economic growth in order to make the world economy more open. We have also made supporting policies for developing and less developed countries.

Zhong added that the Chinese government sincerely welcomes government officials, business communities, exhibitors and professional purchasers across the world to participate in CIIE and to explore the Chinese market.

In the next five years, China is expecting to import products and services valuing more than 10 trillion U.S. dollars, which provides a historic opportunity for enterprises around the world to enter the huge Chinese market.

Enterprises from over 100 countries and regions are expected to participate in the first CIIE and so far, companies from 80 countries have confirmed their participation for the exhibition. The CIIE will facilitate participation in terms of customs clearance, inspection and quarantine, provide long-term one-stop transaction services online and offline, and strengthen protection of intellectual property rights to safeguard the rights and interests of merchants, she added.

The CIIE has invited Chinese enterprises from across the country to come to do business. Merchants from other countries have also been invited to the expo. It is estimated that 150,000 domestic and foreign professional purchasers will participate in the expo.

Zhong further explained that the expo is a major decision made by the Chinese government to promote opening up at a higher level and is also a major step taken by China to actively open up its market to the world. Participants will include G20, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries, Belt and Road member companies as well as those from less developed countries.

This will be a platform where countries can showcase their development achievements and enjoy equal opportunities of cultural and business exchanges. Due to the active responses from countries around the world, it has been decided to increase the exhibition space to 270,000 square meters. 186 companies from 38 African countries, 1,200 companies from 39 Asian countries and 56 companies from the seven ASEAN countries have confirmed their participation so far, Zhong added.