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Kinling Lo

Xie Yu

Crowds flocked to the opening of China’s import fair on Monday despite a big snub from Washington and the meagre presence of US exhibitors – allowing the Shanghai government to breathe a sigh of relief.
With Beijing and Washington locked in a trade war, the US government had sent none of its senior government officials to the huge China International Import Expo in the financial hub.
Although 180 US companies took part, the American presence at the fair was noticeably smaller than it might have been. The show also included no American “national pavilion”.
Joining the US in absentia was Japan. The five other G7 nations – Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada – had exhibit booths in the hall.


Nevertheless, people streamed into the 1.5 million square metre National Exhibition and Conference Centre as soon as the gates opened to the general public on Monday afternoon.
More than 3,000 companies from 130 countries will be trying to sell into a market of 1.3 billion consumers over the fair’s six-day duration. With 400,000 purchasing agents expected to attend, the fair is creating a festival feeling in China’s metropolis.
Many Shanghai offices and companies have granted staff a three-day break for the first part of the week.
Xi Jinping promises greater opening up at China International Import Expo
So many people crowded the exhibition hall on opening day that the first-floor safety check system went down, leaving the throng stuck between the first and ground floors for around half an hour.
The expo is Beijing’s latest attempt to convince its global partners of its commitment to free trade and opening up access to its markets amid the simmering trade war.
President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech on Monday morning voiced China’s commitment to free trade.

Making it clear that Beijing intends to open the Chinese economy wider to the world and protect globalisation, the president put the nation’s estimated total purchase of foreign goods over the next 15 years at US$30 trillion with another US$10 trillion in services.
Lin Li, a government official from southeast China’s Fujian province, said he had encouraged local businesses over the last six months to place orders at the expo to ensure it would be a success.
Britain’s pavilion – which was not attracting much foot traffic – featured the slogan “extraordinary innovation” on a wall. The neighbouring Egypt pavilion had a pyramid-shaped entrance and walls covered with ancient Egyptian images.
Xi Jinping makes fresh promises to open China’s economy and boost imports by US$40 trillion
By contrast, the main ground-floor hall where business exhibitors promoted their wares was livelier. Visitors found eight blocks of products ranging from electronics and auto parts to agriculture.
Costco, the US multinational chain of membership-only warehouse clubs, was among American businesses with a spot in the hall. Its booth had an upbeat atmosphere with nearly a dozen staff actively greeting visitors and offering samples of imported dried blueberries.

“Come check out Costco! We are going to open our first warehouse in Shanghai next year,” booth salespeople were telling passers-by. A person in charge of the Costco booth, who refused to give her name, said Costco aimed to promote their brand through the event.
“Many Chinese customers are beginning to know our brand, we thought it would be useful for them to know that we also sell on Tmall and will have a store next year,” she told the South China Morning Post.
Xi sells International Import Expo as symbol of China’s openness and globalisation
“The market for imported goods is definitely there, as Chinese spenders keep gaining higher spending power.”
Eric Rondolat, the chief executive and chairman of Signify, formally known as Philips Lighting, a unit of Dutch electronics maker Royal Philips, said his company is “grateful to be invited to this event as it is an example of the Chinese belief in cooperation and partnerships as a basis for progress”, according to a press release.
Additional reporting by Sidney Leng and Daniel Ren


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Despite little US presence, China’s import expo proved crowded enough on Day 1

A Siemens representative shows an energy system to visitors at the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

epa07142638 Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (7-R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (8-R) pose for a family photo of heads of delegations during opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, 05 November 2018. High Chinese and foreign officials attended the event which runs from 05 to 10 November 2018 in Shanghai. EPA-EFE/DMITRY ASTAKHOV / SPUTNIK / GOVERNMENT PRESS SERVICE POOL MANDATORY CREDIT

(181105) -- SHANGHAI, Nov. 5, 2018 (Xinhua) -- A staff member stands in front of NACHI robot arms working on the body of a car at the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 5, 2018.(Xinhua/Fang Zhe)(ly)

Xi Jinping promises greater opening up  at China International Import Expo, warns against winner-takes-all mentality

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the opening ceremony for the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong’s top officials and bosses head to Shanghai for first China International Import Expo to showcase city’s strengths as trade hub

The China International Import Expo runs from November 5 to 11 in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters

Interview with Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau Tang-wah on why Hong Kong is taking part in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) next month at the Central Government Offices in Tamar. 18OCT18 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

Workers are seen in front of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue to hold the upcoming first China International Import Expo (CIIE), in Shanghai on October 31, 2018. - Chinese President Xi Jinping opens a huge Shanghai import fair next week at which armies of Chinese companies will shop for billions of dollars in foreign goods as China seeks to counter charges that its markets aren't open. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP)

Xi Jinping set to sell International Import Expo as symbol of China’s openness and globalisation

President Xi Jinping will seek to promote China as an advocate for globalisation and free trade when he opens the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters

(181102) -- SHANGHAI, Nov. 2, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on Nov. 1, 2018 shows a container dock of Yangshan Port in Shanghai, east China. The first China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled to be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) (wyl)

Firemen drive electric firetrucks in front of the National Exhibition and Convention Center, the venue for the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE), in Shanghai, China November 3, 2018. REUTERS/Aly Song

(181102) -- SHANGHAI, Nov. 2, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on Oct. 19, 2018 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue to hold the upcoming first China International Import Expo (CIIE), in Shanghai, east China. The CIIE is scheduled to be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fan Jun) (wyl)

China takes aim at trade critics with import expo as US officials stay away

Jinbao, the mascot for the first China International Import Expo, stands at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. Photo: Xinhua

(181031) -- SHANGHAI, Oct. 31, 2018 (Xinhua) -- A technician guides the installation of exhibits at an exhibition hall in the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in Shanghai, east China, on Oct. 30, 2018. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) (wyl)

CCTV cameras are seen in front of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue to hold the upcoming first China International Import Expo (CIIE), in Shanghai on October 31, 2018. - Chinese President Xi Jinping opens a huge Shanghai import fair next week at which armies of Chinese companies will shop for billions of dollars in foreign goods as China seeks to counter charges that its markets aren't open. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP)

(181031) -- SHANGHAI, Oct. 31, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Workers are seen on an assembly line at SAIC-Volkswagen workshop in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 30, 2018. SAIC's new cars will make debut at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) which runs from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai. The CIIE is the latest move of China to promote trade liberalization and further open up its market. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) (wyl)

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First China International Import Expo opens with tens of thousands trying to get in
Local officials told to buy so that foreign exhibitors can return home with pockets full


The first China International Import Expo opens with tens of thousands trying to get in after local officials were told to buy to fill foreign exhibitors’ pockets.


Despite little US presence, China’s import expo proved crowded enough on Day 1

First China International Import Expo opens with tens of thousands trying to get in Local officials told to buy so that foreign exhibitors can return home with pockets full

First China International Import Expo opens with tens of thousands trying to get in

Local officials told to buy so that foreign exhibitors can return home with pockets full