The seventh China International Import Expo, which concluded on Sunday and raked in an intended transaction value exceeding $80 billion on a one-year basis, up 2 percent over that of the previous expo, has demonstrated not only foreign businesses’ confidence in the Chinese economy but also the country’s resolve to advance its opening-up.
The expo brought in 3,496 enterprises from 129 countries and regions, including 297 of the world’s top 500 companies or industry leaders. At the expo, China provided more than 120 free booths for enterprises from 37 least-developed countries. As a result, it was not only the first time that Benin, Madagascar and other African countries participated in the expo, but also the first time Tanzanian honey and other African products made a debut.
Multinational companies brought with them 450 new products, new technologies and new services, demonstrating that the CIIE continues to bring innovation and new productive forces. At this year’s expo, US companies continued to rank first in terms of exhibition area. Following the first delegation it sent to participate in last year’s expo, the US Department of Agriculture brought more US companies this year, reflecting that despite the attempts of some to decouple the US economy from that of China, the China-bashing politicians in the United States cannot prevent US companies from coming to China.
Behind this year’s CIIE are China’s long-term efforts to promote high-standard opening-up that show not only its openness and inclusiveness, but also its commitment to sharing opportunities with the world. Beijing’s reiteration that it will further open up the country’s superlarge market, including implementing unilateral opening-up measures and granting 100 percent zero tariffs to the least-developed countries, means China matches its words with deeds.
China’s determination to adhere to high-level opening-up has never changed, as evidenced by the ever-expanding visa-free policy to the implementation of the negative list for foreign investment access, from revising and promulgating measures for the management of strategic investment by foreign investors in listed companies to establishing a negative list management model for the cross-border trade in services.
China has continuously launched positive measures to boost consumer confidence and unleash the potential of domestic demand, which will boost the domestic economy and offer greater opportunities for other countries. The charm of the Chinese market displayed through CIIE has made its opening-up actions and determination recognized by the world.