By staff reporter ZHANG HUI

　　On November 6, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) venue, National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), witnessed a succession of opening ceremonies and press releases by country pavilions. China Today interviewed four ministers from the U.K., Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Each of them unanimously expressed their own excitement and high expectations for the CIIE, and spoke highly of China’s determination and moves towards further opening-up.

　　Innovation Is the Key

U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox

　　Responding to President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on the importance of innovation for trade and economic growth and talking about the prospect of China-U.K. cooperation in this field, U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox told China Today, “Innovation is key in every area, to continue improvements in trade. It improves our efficiency, and it generally widens the availability of technology. Innovation and trade together have combined to provide a wide range of goods at ever more affordable prices to a wide range of people.”

　　Fox indicated that the U.K. had more venture capital on technology, which came to London last year, than the whole of France, Germany, Spain, and Ireland combined. “There’s been a huge amount of investment very keen to see that investment going both directions. The U.K. pavilion here at the expo is very much dedicated to the concept of innovation. As investments go in both directions, we therefore need to have an equally open investment climate in both directions,” Fox added.

　　This is Fox’s fifth visit to China this year. He said his frequent visits underscore the commitment of the U.K. government towards strong bilateral relationship with China. While talking about President Xi Jinping’s speech which was given the day before, Fox said, “We welcome China's ongoing efforts to open up, increasing imports across both goods and services and improving the business environment. We welcome the president's calls to relax investment restrictions in the education and healthcare sectors. I'm looking forward to a clear timeline for liberalization. At the same time, we also encourage China to further deepen its opening-up efforts.”

　　The Future Is Bright

Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham

　　At the Australian Pavilion on November 6, the 2018 Doing Business in China report was released based on a recent survey of members from AusCham China and the Australia China Business Council. The report indicates that two-thirds of Australian businesses operating in China plan to increase their investments in the country.

　　At the report release ceremony, Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham told China Today, “The import expo provides great opportunities for Australian companies. More than 160,000 registered buyers offer an enormous opportunity for businesses across a whole range of spheres to create new contacts, develop new contracts and ensure that they can increase their sales into China, and hopefully fulfill President Xi’s vision of ensuring that China’s connectedness with the world continues to grow. We welcome that commitment from China’s government. And we’re very enthused on the ground. The store holders and businesses I’ve visited today have been very, very enthusiastic, and positive about the engagement they’re having already and the opportunities that (the expo) presents.”

　　The report lists top cost concerns of Australian businesses in the Chinese market, mainly involving human resources, payroll/insurance fees, and general inflation. “I acknowledge the concerns that the report identified. We have to be realistic and recognize that two mature countries are a little different from time to time. You want to always say that every proposed investment is realized or approved. There will be the occasional variance. We should approach them with respect and maturity, and in a manner which people can understand.”

　　The Australian minister lauded China’s 40 years of reform and opening-up, saying that “those achievements are most profound in the lives of individual people that have been transformed, hundreds of millions of people lifted out of poverty, which creates a growing middle class, which creates the business opportunities that are so clearly identified.” 

　　Growing Trade

Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay

　　At the opening ceremony of the Canada Pavilion, 19 cooperation agreements were signed between Chinese and Canadian companies with the total value beyond RMB 3 billion, involving such sectors as science, health care, agriculture, and transportation.

　　“The expo provides a great opportunity for companies to display their products. That’s exciting what we’re doing. We just want to make sure that Chinese consumers are fully aware of what we have,” Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay told China Today at the ceremony.

　　“We understand the importance of the Chinese market and we have a hundred billion Canadian dollars’ worth of trade between both countries, and we want to double that by 2025, and we will,” MacAulay said.

　　“What we want to do is to strengthen our relationship with China and make sure that bilateral trade continues to expand. We have products that Chinese people need, and we have good-quality, safe agricultural products,” he added.

　　Meaningful Event, Real Opportunities

New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker

　　“CIIE is a meaningful event presenting real opportunities for consumers and businesses in our biggest market,” New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker said at the press release of the New Zealand Pavilion.

　　“We’ve been very pleased to hear President Xi Jinping’s comments yesterday, to continue opening-up of the Chinese economy,” the minister said. 

　　In terms of the potential areas of New Zealand to increase exports to China, “We’ve got quite a diverse series of imports these days. Of course, we're best known for our food and beverage. People can trust products that come from New Zealand. We have very good systems in New Zealand to ensure traceability, so as to minimize counterfeit products. So I think food and beverage will probably be the leading areas, but we also have areas of technological capability. Some of New Zealand's robotics are actually world leading. So all of those skills complement those which are in China.”

　　In his speech at the press release, Parker said, “We welcome the comments by President Xi Jinping about defending the rule-based international order and in support of free trade.” He indicated that New Zealand’s support for the rule-based trading system and free and open markets was a major reason that New Zealand participated in the CIIE.

　　According to the minister, more than 90 companies were represented at the New Zealand stand and 40 companies with their own booths create a strong presence at the expo for brand New Zealand.