Chinese companies sign US$73.5 billion of deals at CIIE despite fewer foreign exhibitors and visitors
- The value of deals signed during the six-day China International Import Expo in Shanghai rose 3.9 per cent year on year
- A total of 2,800 exhibitors from 145 countries and regions took part in the event, about 100 fewer than last year, while the number of visitors fell to 461,000 from 480,000
Chinese companies agreed to buy goods and services worth US$73.5 billion from foreign exhibitors at the world’s largest import trade fair, echoing President Xi Jinping’s pledge to further open up the country’s vast market.
The value of the transactions sealed during the six-day China International Import Expo (CIIE) that ended in Shanghai on Thursday rose 3.9 per cent from last year, despite fewer exhibitors and visitors because of stringent virus-prevention measures.
A total of 2,800 exhibitors from 145 countries and regions took part in the Chinese government’s tentpole event, about 100 fewer than last year, while visitor numbers dropped to 461,000 from 480,000 last year. Many deals were pre-signed before the opening of the CIIE.
President Xi, who kicked off the CIIE in a televised speech last Friday, said China’s consumption-led economic development model would offer the global economy big opportunities as more goods and services were imported.