9th China International Import Expo opens in Shanghai

Despite rising uncertainties and headwinds in global trade, confidence of foreign companies in China remains unchanged, and this can be largely attributed to the country's continued efforts to advance higher-level opening-up and facilitate innovation, officials and top executives attending the 9th China International Import Expo said.

That confidence is reflected in the record highs registered at this year's CIIE, which opened in Shanghai on Thursday and runs through Tuesday. Altogether, 4,142 overseas exhibitors are present at this year's business exhibition — the core commercial segment — more than in any previous editions. Furthermore, the total exhibition area exceeds 440,000 square meters for the first time, and more than 480 exhibits are expected to make their debut, another high.

In his speech during Thursday's opening ceremony, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang said that various opening-up policies of China have been first introduced or better interpreted to the world through the CIIE. Quality products, innovative services, frontier technologies and application scenarios have all been extended worldwide through the expo.

He said that amid a rapidly changing world economy, the consecutive CIIE editions are China's active moves to advocate an open world economy and strike a dynamic balance in world trade.

Alexander De Croo, administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, said that while the world is facing rising pressures due to economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and climate change, the CIIE provides a crucial platform of dialogue and cooperation.

The value of the CIIE lies not only in opening up the Chinese market, but also in the business ties that are created and tightened in the process, sharpening competitiveness of economies and elevating prosperity, he said.

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker agreed that dialogues addressing challenges and different perspectives openly and constructively form the very foundation of common prosperity.

"Europe does not seek isolation. We seek engagement while also ensuring that our economic resilience and industrial capabilities remain strong," said Stocker, advocating deeper China-Austria cooperation in future-oriented technologies.

Speaking at Thursday's event, Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema applauded China's green transition and digitalization.

He said the zero-tariff treatment that China has comprehensively granted since May 1 to African countries that have diplomatic relations with China will help to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

This year, the number of Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders attending the CIIE tops 300 for the first time.

Caterpillar Inc, a United States-based construction and mining machinery manufacturer, is showcasing a range of digital technologies, energy solutions and services to address challenges across the infrastructure, mining and energy sectors.

Alan Yang, the company's senior vice-president, considers the expo a valuable platform to connect with customers and key stakeholders, better understand their evolving needs and explore new opportunities.

This year's expo is hosting over 2,000 first-time exhibitors, including Singapore-based Perennial Holdings. The group's project in Tianjin — China's first wholly foreign-owned tertiary comprehensive hospital — began operations in February 2025. A similar project is expected to open in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, at the end of this year, according to Zhai Lili, the company's head for brand promotion in China. Such progress testifies to China's institutional opening-up in trade of services, she said.

Around 170 enterprises and 30 overseas organizations have participated in all nine editions of the CIIE. Swedish medical technology company Elekta is one of them.

Gong Anming, president for China at Elekta, said the company is shifting from introducing global technologies to developing innovations locally and bringing Chinese clinical experience to international markets.