Establishing new exhibition areas such as cross-border e-commerce to introduce new consumer themes and scenarios
Interpreting the Opportunities in the Chinese Market from the “New” Perspective of the China International Import Expo
Global attention is once again focused on Shanghai’s “four leaf clover”. On November 5th, the 8th China International Import Expo (referred to as the “8th CIIE”), full of “new” ideas, kicked off. This year’s CIIE has established for the first time a “Cross border E-commerce Preferred Platform” and a “Cross border E-commerce Service Area”, and introduced new consumer themes and scenarios, with a wide range of new products and emerging talents. Many “new” elements are not only highlights of the exhibition, but also effectively link global enterprises with the Chinese market.
Over the years, the newly established exhibition areas at the CIIE have attracted much attention. In the crowded consumer goods exhibition area, the “Cross border E-commerce Service Area” made its debut, building an efficient and convenient cooperation bridge for “transforming exhibits into commodities” and attracting many foreign businessmen to stop and inquire.
At the Tmall Global booth, the “Global Emerging Brand Collective Signing Ceremony” is being rehearsed intensively. Tmall Global has brought over 100 global new products, covering global debuts, CIIE debuts, and high hot topic products.
We have transformed from a purchaser to an exhibitor, and this year we have become a cross-border e-commerce service provider, witnessing more and more companies willing to enter China, participate in CIIE, and also hope to help more overseas brands quickly reach Chinese consumers, “Chen Changyan, Director of Public Affairs at Taotian Group, told reporters.
In addition, this year’s CIIE has innovatively set up a special exhibition area, introducing new consumer themes and scenarios. Global top companies gathered at the CIIE, with industry leaders such as the top ten industrial electrical companies and the four major grain merchants continuing to participate, as well as multiple multinational medical companies showcasing a range of medical products focused on the treatment of chronic and rare diseases, including new products and services that made their debut.
For example, in order to better support China’s “Healthy Aging” campaign, Danone has showcased a variety of new medical nutrition products that rely on advanced scientific research and clinical evidence, further enriching its solutions in the field of adult professional nutrition; Philips brings nearly 50 innovative products and solutions, including ten new Chinese debut products such as clinical multi MRI; Louis Dreyfus continues to make efforts in the field of coffee deep processing, bringing tailored coffee products for Chinese consumers.
“We value the steady growth of China’s coffee industry and the huge market size in recent years.” Chen Jiayuan, CEO of Louis Dreyfus North Asia, told reporters that this year’s new products cover spray dried coffee, freeze dried coffee, coffee concentrate and other categories, aiming to meet more expectations of the Chinese market.
Zhou Wei, a researcher at the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, told reporters that the continuous addition of these “new” elements highlights the strong attractiveness of the Chinese market and is also a vivid manifestation of China’s sustained high-level opening-up and global connectivity. China is actively building a more efficient and convenient trade ecosystem, promoting the smooth integration of high-quality global goods into the Chinese market, and helping companies from various countries gain a deeper understanding of China’s needs
Multiple interviewed companies have told reporters that choosing to make their debut at the CIIE is precisely because they value its strong spillover effects and the market opportunities shared between China and the world.
Xie Weibo, President of Danone China, North Asia and Oceania, said that over the past eight years, Danone has witnessed the spillover effects continuously released by the CIIE and felt China’s unwavering determination to promote high-level opening up. In the future, we will rely on scientific research innovation and advanced manufacturing, seize open opportunities such as the China International Import Expo, and provide richer and more diverse innovative products, green technologies, and digital services
Liu Ling, member of the Philips Global Executive Committee and President of Greater China, also stated that Philips has been deeply involved in and witnessed the vigorous development of China’s healthcare industry, and has full confidence in the Chinese market. We will continue to rely on the CIIE as an open bridge, deepen local cooperation, and strengthen our layout in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and medical technology.
According to a survey conducted by KPMG on nearly 1500 CEOs worldwide, although external risks and challenges have escalated, the Chinese economy has shown strong resilience and vitality, and Chinese business managers’ confidence in the short-term domestic economy has rebounded against the trend.
The CIIE is a “big stage” for closely observing China’s high-level opening-up to the outside world, and also an “experience area” for immersing oneself in the advantages of China’s super large market. Through the CIIE, multinational enterprises see the infinite vitality and growth potential contained in the Chinese market. China has been the world’s second-largest import market for 16 consecutive years, and imports of goods and services are expected to exceed $15 trillion during the 14th Five Year Plan period. In the next decade, the middle-income group in China will exceed 800 million people, and the potential for a super large market is enormous.
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made important arrangements from four aspects: actively expanding independent opening up, promoting trade innovation and development, expanding space for two-way investment cooperation, and jointly building the “the Belt and Road” in high quality, which released a strong signal of China’s adherence to openness and cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results.
The CIIE is injecting more certainty into the world through practical actions. The CIIE is backed by the Chinese market, with a cumulative intended transaction volume of over 500 billion US dollars in the first seven editions, helping enterprises from all countries to jointly cope with the fluctuations and difficulties in the international market. This is enough to demonstrate China’s determination to share market opportunities, “said Sheng Qiuping, Deputy Minister of Commerce. (Reporters Chen Hanyang, Wang Wenbo, Zhou Rui)