On Tuesday, Shanghai officially entered "CIIE moment," which has become an annual feast of global trade cooperation, and the colorful billboards on the streets of Shanghai and bustling scenes at the exhibition halls put on vivid display of the strong vibrancy and attractiveness of the Chinese market.  

A record high of 297 Fortune Global 500 and industrial leaders are present. Additionally, 186 companies and institutions are participating for the seventh consecutive year, earning the title of "full attendance" at the CIIE.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said at the opening ceremony that China will open its doors wider to the outside world, regardless of how the international environment changes.

In their speeches at the ceremony, foreign leaders and heads of international organizations remarked that the CIIE has become an important international platform for promoting trade and investment and boosting opening up and cooperation. 

They voiced their confidence in the Chinese economy and its prospect, and expressed willingness to advance cooperation with China in jointly building the Belt and Road as well as in areas such as economy, trade, connectivity and green development, maintain free trade, and promote equality, progress and sustainable development in the world.

Harry Wu, our correspondent in Shanghai, is now at the CIIE. Today in this episode we’ve invited Harry to chat with us and share his thoughts on the grand event. And he’s also brought us some guests.

Stephanie: Hi Harry, thank you for joining the program.

Harry: Hi Stephanie. Thanks for having me.

Stephanie: So Harry, you’re at the 7th China International Import Expo now. It’s also the biggest edition in terms of size and participation since it inaugurated in 2018. What’s your first expression of the event this year?

Harry: I’m here at the media center for seventh CIIE. There are so many correspondents here that we have to come very early to get a seat to work or a seat to eat. At the booths of National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), all I can see is people looking for new opportunities. The huge crowds also benefit from China's visa-free policy. I see exhibitors from France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia and so on.

At Malaysia Pavilion, the crowds wait in long lines to taste fresh Musang King durian from Malaysia. Unlike previous shipments that were frozen or processed, these fresh durians are tree-ripened, requiring fast logistics to ensure their quality. Musang King durian can now be enjoyed fresh, offering Chinese consumers a unique and elevated taste experience.

Stephanie: You’ve been covering to the CIIE for the fourth year now. What struck you the most this year? What are the highlights?

Harry: What impressed me most is the record participation. Well, you know the numbers. Let me give you a specific example. Marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between Norway and China, Norway has established its first national pavilion at the seventh CIIE, where Norwegian exhibitors aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation and explore new opportunities. Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, visited China and attended the CIIE. She made Chinese dumplings to celebrate Lidong, the start of winter on Chinese lunar calendar. There are so many firsts and stories this year.

Stephanie: The CIIE is often seen as a gateway to China. Every year during the event, the world is coming to China and it underlines China's essential role in the global economy. What do you think the CIIE mean for China?

Harry: With a population of over 1.4 billion, China has a diverse range of consumer groups, each with a massive scale, which translates into enormous demand for products and services. The tremendous potential and increasingly open market have brought tangible returns to foreign companies that are expanding their presence in China. The keen interest from global participants has shown the growing influence of the CIIE and the attraction of the Chinese market. It also highlights  China's efforts to push forward the building of an open world economy.

For example, during the CIIE I talked to Dr. David Blair, senior economist of Alliance of Global Talent Organizations (AGTO) and Professor of Economics at the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington, DC. He thinks the CIIE is a signal of China’s opening up to the world. Take a listen.

David: I think it's a signal to the world that China is open for trade. I think the main thing is that it's signaling China is not closing itself off, and it’s going to continue the reform and opening-up policies. 

Stephanie: Harry, you’ve been talking with a lot of exhibitors, what do they think about this year’s expo?

Harry: Yes, they are all very excited to be here. This is Sigmund Bjørgo, director of the Norwegian Seafood Council in China. Norway made a debut at this year's CIIE by establishing a national pavilion for the first time, tapping into the vast potential of the Chinese market. The pavilion features a wide range of industries, including maritime and energy, health and nutrition, design and lifestyle, food and agriculture, as well as seafood and consumer goods.

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