Beijing praises its own ‘import expo’ despite snub from US
- Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed to attend and give speech
- Show designed to paint China as a buyer, not only a seller in the world
Politicians and business executives from about 150 countries have signed up for Shanghai’s international import fair next month, despite the US refusing to send any senior government officials.
Senior Chinese commerce officials told a media briefing in Beijing on Monday that the China International Import Expo had won acclaim and support from most of the world’s major trading nations.
But no state leader or government head from the G7 will be attending, and major trading partners from South Korea to Australia will not be sending heavyweights to the event.
The media briefing also confirmed that China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan would host a banquet on November 4, ahead of the opening ceremony, for attending foreign state leaders and senior government officials.
According to China's foreign ministry, guests of honour include Czech President Milos Zeman, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.