Shanghai releases measures to support 4th CIIE

Shanghai will take a raft of measures to ensure the success of the fourth China International Import Expo, as authorities have put the event on the top of their work agendas this year.

The government vowed in its just-released work report to provide better services for the import expo, including hosting additional promotional activities to sell more exhibits and turn more exhibitors into investors.

The success of the previous CIIE sessions has helped China jump in the global business environment ranking, said Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, when delivering the government work report in late January.

By the end of last year, Shanghai was home to 771 multinational companies' regional headquarters and 481 regional research and development centers.

In the report, the city also unveiled its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and long-term objectives through the year 2035.

In the next five years, Shanghai will further expand opening-up and reform for future growth "by drawing on the expo's roles in international procurement, investment attraction, cultural exchanges and wide cooperation."

Shanghai will also continue to tap into the spillover effect of CIIE and Hongqiao's influence as an open international hub to lead the Yangtze River Delta's integrated development.

Intended deals worth up to $72.62 billion were signed at the third CIIE, a growth of 2.1 percent year-on-year.

To further support the event, a special task force will be set up for CIIE-related cases. Also, misbehaved participators will be blacklisted, according to a work report released by Shanghai People's Procuratorate.

The fourth CIIE is slated to be held from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai, and hundreds of companies have signed up for it.