The China International Import Expo is a significant topic during an international conference commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, which is being held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, today.

The conference aims to strengthen the strategic partnerships between China and countries involved in the BRI, and further deepen their cooperation in trade, investment, and cultural exchanges.

A symposium on the CIIE is also held during the event to provide a briefing about the expo to Kazakh governments, enterprises, and academic institutions.

Kazakhstan has been an active participant in the expo's country exhibition and was a guest of honor during the second edition. Kazakh enterprises have so far attended all editions of the expo, with an average of around 20 exhibitors attending each edition. They have secured intended deals worth $430 million during the expos.

Kazakhstan's dairy products, flour, and confectionery items have gained popularity among Chinese consumers after they were exhibited at the CIIE.

Other Central Asian countries like Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan have also played a significant role in previous editions of the CIIE. Through the expo, numerous new products, technologies and services from these countries such as Kyrgyzstan's honey and Uzbekistan's canned pilaf have found their way to the Chinese market.

In less than 60 days, the sixth CIIE will take place in Shanghai. Nearly 1,000 companies from countries involved in the BRI have signed up for 75,000 square meters of exhibition space, an increase of about 20 percent from the previous edition.

By Zhao Guangmei