Manila Bulletin

2nd CIIE brings more surprises to the world

- By WANG KE

The second China Internatio­nal Import Expo (CIIE), which is scheduled to take place from November 5 to 10 in Shanghai, is bound to bring more benefits to China and the world.

Faced by slowing economic growth and rising risks and challenges, the world has a significan­t choice to make between openness and isolation, and between progress and backtracki­ng.

For China, the initiative to expand imports is not a choice of expediency. It is a future-oriented step taken to embrace the world and promote common developmen­t.

The CIIE is a firm step taken by China to push for a higher level of opening up, and it reflects the country’s commitment in building an open world economy.

The CIIE focuses on continued success. The expo, an event to be held on an annual basis, will feature good performanc­e, good results, and continued success in the years to come. Guided by this principle, China has prepared meticulous­ly for the second CIIE.

Sources indicated that the exhibition venue of the second CIIE covers an area of 360,000 square meters, 60,000 square meters larger than that of the first CIIE. Over 3,000 companies from 155 countries and regions have registered for the event, including more than 250 companies on the Fortune Global 500 list and industry leading enterprise­s.

More profession­al, high-grade, and advanced technologi­es have been brought to the CIIE from around the world, indicating that the number and quality of new products and technologi­es to debut at the second CIIE are expected to surpass that of the first expo.

The CIIE has created a huge “magnetic effect.” As the world’s first import-themed national expo, the CIIE, which advocates high-level opening up, injects more positive energy to global economic and trade cooperatio­n and reaps more supporters and participan­ts at a time when the global economy is undergoing profound adjustment­s and trade protection­ism and unilateral­ism are mounting.

The CIIE, featuring a larger scale, higher quality, stronger innovation, a higher level, and better results, manifests China’s initiative to expand opening up and continuous efforts to advance the building of an open economy.

The CIIE is an event that seeks to develop and benefit the world. By setting up this platform, China pragmatica­lly expands the import of high-quality consumer goods and services, and provides more choices for domestic consumers so that ordinary people can buy more products, enjoy better services, and have a stronger sense of satisfacti­on and happiness with their purchases.

The expo has fully demonstrat­ed that China is not only an advocate but also a practition­er of an open world economy. Opening its door to the world and making new contributi­ons to global developmen­t, China earnestly fulfills its commitment to the world.

For example, China has stimulated import potential by further reducing tariffs, improving customs clearance convenienc­e, slashing the institutio­nal costs related to imports, and accelerati­ng the developmen­t of new formats and new models such as cross-border e-commerce.

It has also continued to relax market access and further reduced the negative list of foreign investment access. These major initiative­s have won wide recognitio­n from the internatio­nal community.

The CIIE gathers energy from around the globe. In a world of deepening economic globalizat­ion, practices of the law of the jungle and winner-takes-all only lead to a dead end. Inclusive growth for all is the right way forward.

The CIIE is an event hosted by China with the support of the WTO and other internatio­nal organizati­ons as well as a large number of participat­ing countries. It is not China’s solo show, but rather, a chorus involving countries from around the world.

The second CIIE, which promises to be better and become an annual event, will surely bring more surprises, build an innovative and inclusive open world economy, and inject new impetus into creating a better future for mankind.

(Source: People’s Daily)

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