3rd CIIE starts 200-day countdown

Preparations for the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) are gaining momentum as the expo started its 200-day countdown on Saturday.

While addressing the ceremony, Sun Chenghai, deputy director general of the CIIE Bureau, said that the promotion and preparation efforts for the third edition is continuing despite the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The third CIIE extends a warm welcome to all exhibitors and buyers across the globe to participate in the expo and seize the opportunities for international trade and investment, people-to-people exchanges, opening-up and cooperation,” Sun said.

Shang Yuying, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, said the city has always taken serving the CIIE as a top priority.

Shanghai has made progress in the prevention and control of the epidemic with economic and social operations already back to normal, she said.

Michiaki Oguri, president of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Shanghai, pledged that the organization, which is an important platform for developing Sino-Japanese economic and trade relations, will play an active role in this year’s expo.

He added that JETRO will gather Japanese SMEs in sectors such as Medical Equipment and Healthcare Products, Food and Agricultural Products and Consumer Goods this year.

Zhao Rong, president of Bank of China (Shanghai), said that as a strategic partner of the CIIE, Bank of China will give full play to its advantages in internationalization and continue to provide comprehensive financial services to the expo.

As of early April, more than 1,000 companies have signed up for the third edition of the expo this year, with more than 60 percent of the planned exhibition space already booked.

A public health and epidemic prevention exhibition area will be introduced to this year's event.