People walk past an electronic poster of the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the Hongqiao Railway Station in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 3, 2023. The 6th CIIE is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. The expo showcases China's new development paradigm, a platform for high-standard opening up, and a public good for the whole world. (Photo: Xinhua)

The sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) has become a major platform for China's opening-up, allowing China to strengthen partnership with other countries and achieve win-win results, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

During a regular press conference held by the ministry on Monday, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the CIIE is not only for China but also for the world. "Each CIIE has witnessed China's improving opening-up, and it also reflects other countries' confidence and hope to share the better future with China together," he said. 

The ongoing six CIIE is the first offline import fair of the scale since the shock of the COVID-19 in 2020, welcoming 289 of the worlds' top-500 enterprises and industry leaders, including 15 leading auto brands, top 10 industrial electric enterprises, top 10 medical equipment makers, top three mineral giants, top four grain vendors and top five shipping titans. The total area of business exhibition reached a new record of 367,000 square meters, according to the foreign ministry.

A business group comprising of small- and medium-sized enterprises from US and a special exhibition for African agricultural products made their debuts this year, reflecting the CIIE's growing attractiveness, Wang said.

"As world's first import-themed national level expo, the CIIE links China and the world, facilitates Chinas high-quality opening-up. Imported merchandise, service and technology not only improve the Chinese people's living standards but also explore new market and business opportunities for all foreign enterprises benefiting from China's rapid development," Wang noted. 

Wang said that opening-up, cooperation and mutual benefit are "wise and natural options."  China will stick to wider opening-up by providing more opportunities, more innovations, growing inclusiveness and sharing, contributing to the global economic recovery along with other countries, he said.

Global Times