The 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) concluded in Shanghai on Sunday, marking another successful year of global participation and business opportunities.

The expo, held from Nov 5 to 10, attracted 3,496 companies from 129 countries and regions to participate in its Enterprise & Business Exhibition, showcasing their latest products, technologies, and visions for the future. It saw tentative deals worth $80.01 billion—an increase of 2 percent compared to the previous year.

Among the exhibitors, 186 companies and organizations have been full-time participants in the CIIE since its launch. The expo also welcomed 1,585 companies from 104 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, 1,106 companies from 13 countries involved in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and 132 exhibitors from 35 least developed countries.

This year's Enterprise & Business Exhibition set up a new special section for new materials within the Intelligent Industry and Information Technology Exhibition Area, which featured high-value products such as electronic materials, biomaterials, and special-purpose materials.

The 7th CIIE served as a significant platform for global businesses to present cutting-edge innovations to a broad audience. Multinational companies unveiled 450 new products, services, and technologies at the 7th CIIE. Among these, more than 100 were global debuts, 40 made their first appearance in Asia, and over 200 made their debut in China.

The Comprehensive Country Exhibition of this year's expo, covering 30,000 square meters, showcased 77 countries and international organizations, highlighting their unique cultures, technologies, and historical heritage. Exhibiting countries and organizations designed their pavilions to reflect their national identities, with over 200 interactive events that attracted widespread attention.

The 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum was held alongside the expo, bringing together more than 300 experts and leaders from the realms of politics, business, and academia. Notable guests included Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, and other leading figures in science and industry. The total number of registrations for the forum exceeded 8,600.

In addition, 743 institutions participated in the people-to-people exchange activities at this year's expo. Over 227 performances by Chinese and international artists were held, providing a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and celebrating the diversity of global arts and culture.

The success of this year's expo further solidifies the CIIE's position as a vital stage for global collaboration in the years to come. Currently, preparations for the 8th CIIE are in full swing, with over 100,000 square meters of exhibition space reserved for the next year's Enterprise & Business Exhibition.

By Zhao Guangmei