Over 1,700 firms apply to attend city’s expo

MORE than 1,700 companies from across the world have applied to attend the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November.

Over 900 applicants have signed contracts for the expo. Among them, 34 percent of enterprises are from the Belt and Road countries and regions.

The import expo “shows China’s determination of opening-up and is set to be a launch place for the newest products,” said Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the China International Import Expo Bureau.

The expo will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. It will cover about 157,000 square meters.

With the expo 200 days away, Sun said the bureau is creating a more welcoming environment for participants. With the help of Big Data and cloud services, those attending will be able to take part in more convenient ways.

The expo “shows that China is safeguarding free trade not only through words, but through deeds,” said Yang Jianrong, director of the Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai.

“Shanghai has taken actions to help enterprises, especially small and medium-sized businesses from developing countries, to have an easier access to Chinese market,” Yang added.

Also yesterday, a Chinese diplomat said the expo reflects China’s commitment to open its door wider for trade and investment.

Li Guangjun, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, told a press briefing in Dhaka that the expo, the first of its kind in China, makes it clear that China’s door will not be closed but opened wider.

“It is the commitment and action made by the Chinese government to open wider,” Li said.

China is keen to make the expo a platform for all other countries to showcase their own social development and economic achievements, as well as for free trade cooperation, Li said.

All parties will have an opportunity to join together and discuss major topics concerning international trade, world economy and globalization, he said, urging Bangladesh businesses and officials to take the opportunity offered by the expo.