District companies first for orders

Shanghai’s first purchase order at the China International Import Expo was generated by a Songjiang company on the morning of November 5. It was the first of 16 orders from 12 Songjiang companies on the first day of the expo.

The first order, from Framatome of France by CNNC Areva Shanghai Tubing Co (CAST), was placed at 11:47am and was worth 26.76 million yuan (US$3.8 million). An essential link in the nuclear industry between the Chinese and French government, CAST is the only supplier of M5TM zircalogy tubes in China.

“Like a bridge connecting China and France, our company will make efforts to promote global free trade, contribute to an open world economy and carry on the spillover effect of CIIE,” said Yves Combres, the company’s general manager.

Gao Yiyi, deputy director of Songjiang, outlined the current development of the G60 HighTech Corridor at a briefing in the convention center on the expo’s first day. G60 is a crossregional development program agreed between Songjiang and another eight cities in the Yangtze River Delta.

During the briefing, Gao talked about the origins of the G60 corridor and its development, highlighting the industrial, geographical, transportation, scientific and technological advantages of the nine cities along the corridor.

Lu Feng, deputy managing director of the G60 High-Tech Corridor joint bureau, explained how a conference on deepening opening-up among the nine G60 cities was being prepared.

The conference, on November 8, issued 30 policies on deepening opening-up and promoting economic integration among the G60 cities, announced the total transaction amount of the nine cities during the CIIE and their total import need in the coming five years. A purchase ceremony was also held during the conference.

The six-day expo saw medical institutes, hotels and catering companies in Songjiang providing high-quality and speedy services inside and outside the venue.

Volunteer support

An expo worker surnamed Li visited Songjiang Jiuting Hospital to change a dressing on a hand injury on the morning of November 5. The hospital, concerned about the urgency of the case, launched its highspeed channel for Li and he was treated within around 10 minutes.

Li Wei, a CIIE visitor from Qingdao in East China’s Shandong Province, called Dazhong International Conference Hotel in Songjiang and said two members of his group had left their entrance cards at the hotel. In less than 20 minutes, hotel staff returned the cards to Li.

“I felt grateful to the hotel. The staff’s working efficiency and caring service let us feel Shanghai’s efficiency and hospitality,” said Li.

Babi Food, a Songjiang catering company, set up a store at the Shanghai Character Food Bar in the expo venue. At lunchtime, it sold around 120 meals to expo guests. Among the most popular items were (steamed stuffed buns), soybean milk and boiled dumplings.

“The expo held strict standards on food safety of catering companies. All the food sources would be traced. So we were highly alert when making food,” said a Babi Food staff member.

Student volunteers from Shanghai International Studies University’s Songjiang campus served visitors during the expo. A total of 602 volunteers from SISU worked at the registering and certificate management center and the news center in reception and venue security.