On the morning of November 3rd, a press conference was held at the Shanghai National Exhibition Centre in the run-up to the opening of the first Chinese International Import Expo (CIIE).
Zhou Bo, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of Shanghai, and Wang Bingnan, China's Vice Minister of Commerce, addressed the domestic and foreign media representatives present.
After a year of intensive preparations, everything is now ready for the opening ceremony of the CIIE and the Hongqiao International Trade and Economic Forum next Monday, which will take place at the same time, said Zhou Bo.
Every effort had been made to create optimal conditions for hosting the major event in the five core areas of safety, traffic, fair operation, urban services, and creating an accommodating urban atmosphere, Zhou said.
The grand opening ceremony will take place on Monday morning, November 5th. China's President Xi Jinping will deliver the opening speech.
China's International Import Expo is the world's first fair of its kind at state level. Parallel to the exhibition, the Hongqiao International Trade and Economic Forum will also take place, where experts from all over the world will discuss ways and opportunities for further opening and innovation in world trade and global investment.
Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bin said at the press conference: "We are aiming to hold a world-class expo that engages the best companies, exhibits the best products, builds the best environment, provides the best services, and achieves the best results.”
Wang also underlined the environmental aspect: "All materials used in building the booths and pavilions are modular, and are basically environmentally friendly materials that can be recycled.”
Around 3000 companies from 130 countries and regions will take part in the Expo. In addition, 18 heads of state or government are expected, including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
A total of 12 countries have set up their own national pavilions on the exhibition grounds - namely Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, Russia, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico.
