SHANGHAI, Oct. 15 -- Preparations for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) are making smooth progress, Vice Premier Hu Chunhua said Tuesday.

Hu, also head of the organizing committee of the CIIE, heard a report on the preparations and watched drills involving security and emergency service staff during his inspection tour to the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, the expo venue.

Hu called for more efforts in facilitating trade negotiations and achieving results in order to make the expo more fruitful and influential.

The second CIIE will be held in Shanghai on Nov. 5-10.