CNBC:
As the pandemic spreads around the world, countries are paying more attention to this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE). How is the preparation for the third CIIE going? Will it be affected by the pandemic? What differences do you think there will be between this year's expo and the previous ones? Thank you.
Wang Bingnan:
Thank you for your question. The CIIE was planned, arranged and promoted by President Xi Jinping. It is China's major initiative to pursue opening up and widen market access to the rest of the world. Successfully held for two sessions, the expo has seen its role as the platforms for international procurement, investment promotion, people-to-people exchanges and open cooperation increasingly highlighted. It brings along increasingly higher comprehensive benefits. It has a great impact and has been widely praised worldwide.
The third CIIE will be held in Shanghai, China, from Nov. 5 to 10 this year. Its overall framework will be roughly the same as the previous two, comprising three major sections – National Trade Investment Comprehensive Exhibition, Corporate Business Exhibition, and Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum.
All the preparations are underway in an orderly and smooth manner. Compared with the previous two sessions, it has the following characteristics in general:
First, a larger scale. Companies worldwide showed great enthusiasm for the expo, with many of them saying that the third CIIE is one of the most important exhibitions in the world this year. We plan to further expand the exhibition area based on the previous session. The current exhibition area under contracts signed so far already exceeds that of the same period last year.
Second, a higher quality. More first-class companies and products will participate in the third CIIE. The world's top 500 and leading companies in their industries will continue participating in the expo with new products, technologies and services. New exhibitors and "hidden champion" companies will also bring featured products to the expo this year.
Third, a better structure. Considering the new development and new requirements of the global economy, we have also set up exhibition areas for public health and epidemic prevention, energy conservation and environmental protection, as well as smart travel. More than 30 Fortune 500 companies and leading companies in the public health field have signed up for the expo, whose exhibition area has already surpassed 5,000 square meters. Work related to the National Trade Investment Comprehensive Exhibition, Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum, and urban service guarantee are all underway steadily as planned.
As the pandemic hits the economy and trade, we will hold the third CIIE this year to continue expanding imports and opening up the Chinese market. This move fully demonstrates China's role as a major responsible country and its importance in accelerating the recovery and growth of the global economy and building an open global economy.
We have formulated a thorough work plan and implemented stringent measures for epidemic prevention and control. By working with various parties, we are confident in making it a first-class international expo featuring a larger scale, better quality, stronger innovation, higher level, and greater achievements.
Friends from the media strongly supported the previous sessions. More than 4,000 Chinese and overseas journalists cover the events every year, making significant contributions to the expo's success. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you and send you an invitation to the third session. Thank you.
