7th CIIE | Economic Notes from Xinhua News Agency: Where Does the Charm of CIIE Come From?

As the winter solstice approaches, the cold grows more intense. At the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center, affectionately known as the "Four-Leaf Clover," the fervor of the CIIE continues to surge. Since its inception, this premier national-level expo dedicated to imports has been held annually in Shanghai without fail.

At the ongoing 7th CIIE, many "old friends" are once again seen. Among the enterprises and institutions that have attended all seven editions, there are several. Among the exhibitors, there are even more "new faces."

Those who haven't been want to come, and those who have been want to come again. Why? Because of the large market and numerous opportunities. For the world, China is a huge and open market. The orders from the CIIE serve as a testament—over the past six CIIE sessions, cumulative intended deals between Chinese and foreign companies have exceeded a hundred billion dollars. This year, the situation remains promising.

Feng Yun, Senior Manager of Medical Market Communication at Zeiss, shared a detail: in just one day, Zeiss had multiple signing ceremonies, from morning till night. Before the guests went on stage to sign and deliver speeches, the staff would pin custom boutonnieres on them. "We used up dozens of boutonnieres." Such scenes are not isolated. Walking through the enterprise exhibition area, visitors flocked to the booths of Schneider, Rockwell, Samsung, and others in waves. Behind the bustling negotiations and signings lies the Chinese large market opening its arms to the world.

What attracts people to the event is not just orders. The CIIE serves as a "barometer" for industry technology. Take building intelligence as an example, leading companies like Siemens and Johnson Controls have brought out their best efforts, often visiting each other, some even creating WeChat groups... Mutual learning and mutual achievement, coming will bring rewards.

The charm of the CIIE also lies in building a "rainbow bridge" for global cooperation. A Belarusian business leader excitedly said that through the CIIE's open platform, not only did they enter the Chinese market, but they also unexpectedly opened up markets in South America and the Middle East, bringing unexpected surprises.

Log in to the official website of this year's CIIE, and you can clearly see the multilingual business matching zone, where information such as "What I have" and "What you need" is updated and matched in real-time, allowing exhibitors and buyers from all countries to seamlessly switch between "face-to-face" and "screen-to-screen" interactions. The CIIE further opens the door to the world, and this is a vivid portrayal.

At this year's CIIE, multinational companies such as L'Oréal and Philips announced plans to continue investing in China, either upgrading their production facilities or focusing on advancing research and innovation in collaboration with local partners. These efforts not only target the needs of the Chinese market but also position China as a base for a broader global market. China is increasingly being chosen by multinational enterprises not only as an export destination but also as an investment and entrepreneurial hub.

If the first CIIE was a unilateral invitation from China to the world, each subsequent edition has been a mutual agreement between China and the world. In this mutual agreement, there are not only developed economies but also a vast number of global South countries. One exhibition brings together the world, and one exhibition benefits the globe.

At the Syrian National Pavilion, Bushra Hassan, the housekeeping manager of Dar Al-Masyaf Hotel who is visiting China for the first time, is busy receiving guests. "I've long heard that the CIIE can bring good fortune, and this time I'm truly amazed. I hope the CIIE can bring us more customers and orders." On the designated day, a group of enterprises and institutions collectively signed up for the 8th CIIE, and the "circle of friends" of the CIIE continues to expand.

Where does the charm of CIIE come from? Perhaps, this is the answer.