The fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) is all set to be held in Shanghai from tomorrow (05) to next Thursday (10).

The aim is to help boost China’s high-quality economic development, widen opening-up, and achieve win-win results for both importers and exporters.

The event officially kicked off after a special keynote address made by Chinese President Xi Jinping this afternoon (04), a tradition that has been in place since the maiden CIIE In 2018.

Hopeful that negotiations on FTA will be reached soon
The Chinese President’s address was followed by video messages from other heads of state and the initial message was by Sri Lankan President – Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Mr. Wickremesinghe said :

This international import theme expo fair is an innovative stage in the developing countries’ attempts to enter the Chinese market. The CIIE has allowed many countries and businesses to enjoy the benefit of the growing consumption appetite of the Chinese people. Sri Lanka has been participating in the CIIE since its inception. Our businesses have benefited greatly through this participation.

We have been provided the opportunity for our industry to establish a foothold in the Chinese market. Modern relations between Sri Lanka and China began with the rapper rice pack. This is for the Munich agreement at the time. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the package. The bilateral relationship between our two nations has since then expanded into numerous areas. Including trade, investment, tourism, education, defense and health. In 2021 the total volume of trade between our two nations was US dollars 4.3 billion.

China is Sri Lanka’s biggest source of imports and there is room to further develop bilateral trade.

We are hopeful that negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement will be reached in the near future.

“China is open for business”
This year’s CIIE lays special emphasis on “I” for International. It will be bigger than the previous expos with more industrial sectors represented across companies. And it stresses that “China is open for business.”

The exhibition is co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

It is organized by China International Import Expo Bureau and Shanghai International Exhibition and National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

• Kelum Shivantha reporting from Shanghai