European nations present at BFA also cast their eyes to CIIE

The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 held a grand opening ceremony in Boao, Hainan Province on April 10. While delivering the keynote speech themed Openness for Greater Prosperity, Innovation for a Better Future at the opening ceremony of the BFA Annual Conference 2018, President Xi Jinping pointed out that we will host the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai this November. It is not just another expo in an ordinary sense, but a major policy initiative and commitment taken of our own accord to open up the Chinese market. We welcome our friends from around the world to participate in the expo.

This year’s forum ushered in the heads of two European states: Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, and Van der Bellen, President of Austria. These two leaders not only attended the BFA but also paid an official state visit to China. In recent years, China has constantly increased its bilateral trade with European nations and has made substantial progress in the “Belt & Road” Initiative.

The European nations present at the BFA have cast their eyes to the CIIE and have shown enthusiasm towards participating in the expo. GIA of the Netherlands, as the Dutch organizer of the CIIE, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the China International Import Expo Bureau on a planned exhibition area of 2,000 m2 and has initially formed a list of exhibitors. Among them, a leading bio-pharmaceutical company Royal DSM, as well as renowned companies such as Philips, Nutricia and Hyproca, are confirmed to attend the CIIE. Moreover, the relevant departments of the Government of the Netherlands, chambers of commerce and associations have also shown their huge support for the CIIE.

European Union is China’s largest trading partner, largest source of technology imports, second largest source of imports and a cluster of multinational and leading companies. As far as the current invitation results of the CIIE are concerned, European nations fully anticipate the CIIE, which has involved itself with numerous featured companies and innovative industries. Key companies from Europe, by taking an active part in the CIIE, will play a positive role in the making of the CIIE as a top expo, the increasing of exports of European products to China and China’s adjustment of its economic structure as well as industrial transformation and upgrades.

(Resources from: shanghaiexpo.org.cn)