CIIE and a Shifting Global Economic Order

the world’s first importthemed national-level expo, China International Import Expo (CIIE), took place in Shanghai on November 5-10, 2018. In understanding the significance of the event, many have focused on the shift taking place in the global economic order being led by China, symbolized by these large international events. At an international level, CIIE represents the promotion of international trade, liberalization, as well as economic globalization. At a domestic level, CIIE is seen as part of a national initiative to drive consumption-led growth and to diversify China’s imports.

Certain international developments, such as the U.s.-china trade tensions, the rollout of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the growing influence of the BRICS grouping, represent changes to the existing global order. And large-scale undertakings such as CIIE are an expression of China’s aspirations to play its role in shaping outcomes in the global economic arena.

Exporters from all countries were welcome to participate in CIIE, but 12 countries were singled out and given the status of “Guest of Honor.” These countries are Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Spanning five continents, incorporating both developed and developing economies, and comprising both land-locked countries and those possessing major seaports, these countries are significant partners to enabling China to realize its objectives.

With the exception of India, all other members of the BRICS grouping, namely Brazil, Russia and South Africa, were given Guest-of-honor status. This not only shows China’s continued commitment to this grouping, but also its desire to continue to see the status and influence of BRICS grow within the international system.

The expo was an opportunity for China to utilize the shift in the global economy to focus more on developing nations. The event gave smaller economic nations an opportunity to effectively represent themselves on this platform that is expected to drive the further integration of economies globally.

During the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation (FOCAC) this September, China had given the opportunity to the least developed African countries to set up a stand at the expo without paying any fees. China and African countries have made great efforts to dispel the idea of an economic relationship that favors China, and the expo allowed African nations to showcase their country’s economic potential by displaying produce from their exportready industries. Africa should be proactive in ensuring political and economic cooperation between African countries, through developing a coordinated China strategy to continue the success of both the FOCAC partnership and CIIE.