SHANGHAI – President Xi Jinping announced the opening of the world’s first import-themed national-level expo in Shanghai yesterday, calling it a “trail-blazing” move in the history of international trade development.
A total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations from five continents are showcasing their development achievements and international image at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) which ends on Saturday.
More than 3,600 companies from different countries will hold discussions and seek common development with over 400,000 purchasers from China and overseas.
The CIIE is “a major policy for China to push for a new round of high-level opening-up and a major measure for China to take the initiative to open its market to the world,” Xi said when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
He again underscored the role of economic globalization, saying that it is “an irreversible historical trend” and provides strong momentum for world economic development.
“All countries should be committed to opening up and oppose protectionism and unilateralism in a clear-cut stand,” Xi said, calling for joint efforts to build an open world economy.
In a time when the waves of protectionism and unilateralism are threatening global growth, the expo is expected to muster support for free trade and inject certainty to the world economy.
The fair will be the epitome of the global economy, with various quality exhibits ranging from German machine tools, Japanese robots and US medical equipment to Australian wine, Brazilian farm produce and South Sudanese handicrafts.
With the slogan “New Era, Shared Future,” the expo is Xi’s brainchild and is set to become a platform for win-win economic cooperation and a landmark project in the country’s higher-level opening up.
China will stimulate the potential for increased imports, continue to broaden market access, foster a world-class business environment, explore new horizons of opening up, and promote international cooperation at multilateral and bilateral levels, Xi said.
President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 1st China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai yesterday. – Xinhua
