As both “guests” and “hosts,” overseas Chinese businesses (enterprises founded by overseas Chinese) experience a unique sensation when participating in the CIIE. They support and engage in this global event in various ways, while the CIIE, in turn, opens doors of opportunity for their growth. Behind the continuous improvement of the CIIE lies the mutual achievements between overseas Chinese businesses and the expo.

Deep Emotional Connection as “Hosts”

“Participating in the CIIE every year is not only a smart business decision but also driven by a strong emotional resonance,” said Zhai Jingli, vice-president of Sinar Mas Group APP (China). For seven consecutive years, Sinar Mas Group APP (Asia Pulp & Paper Co.,Ltd.) has been an active participant in the CIIE. “We see the CIIE as the most anticipated event each year. We are both ‘guests’ and ‘hosts’ here.”

The CIIE provides a platform for overseas Chinese enterprises, including Sinar Mas Group APP, to showcase themselves and connect with global resources.

Sinar Mas Group APP’s exhibit booth at the 3rd CIIE. [Photo / Sinar Mas Group]

Chia Tai Group (also called: Charoen Pokphand Group or CP Group), an iconic overseas Chinese business with over a century of history, was founded in Thailand in 1921 and entered China in 1979. It was the first foreign company to invest in mainland China after the country’s Reform and Opening-up policy and has since established over 600 enterprises in China.

CP Group has participated in every CIIE to date. “The CIIE has created an important platform for CP to engage in exchanges and cooperation,” said Xie Yi, senior vice chairman of CP Group and CEO of CP Investment Co., Ltd. On one hand, the CIIE has deepened CP’s “Buy globally, sell globally” trade strategy. On the other hand, it attracts global buyers and partners, helping the company explore new market channels and discover new business opportunities.

Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co., Ltd. President Mu Yankui also expressed deep affection for the CIIE, stating, “This is a platform where China sets the stage for the world to participate and share. We’ve witnessed the continued success of the CIIE, and the expo has broadened our business development as well.”

Oishi’s booth at the 4th CIIE. [Photo / Oishi]

Oishi, a well-known brand among Chinese consumers, was founded by the Philippines-based Liwayway Holdings Co., Ltd.. Starting as a small family-run workshop in Manila in 1946, the company became a limited corporation in 1966, and by 1993, it had invested in manufacturing plants in China. Oishi’s brand has steadily gained more recognition. Larry Chan, Chairman of Oishi China Co., Ltd., is a third-generation Chinese Filipino, born and raised in the Philippines. Under his leadership, elements of Philippine Chinatown and the “Three Treasures of the Chinese Filipino” were showcased at Oishi’s CIIE booth. For Xu, participating in the CIIE has strengthened Oishi’s confidence in establishing deeper roots in China.

CP Group’s booth at the CIIE. [Photo / CP Group]

A “Fast Track”

From a “global expo” to a “global platform,” the CIIE has captivated Chineseowned businesses worldwide. Their deep participation in the expo has also shortened the distance between their countries of residence and China. Leveraging the CIIE as an opportunity, these companies have accelerated their integration into the Chinese market and are sharing in the country’s growth.

Founded in 1938 by renowned IndonesianChinese businessman Huang Yicong, Sinar Mas Group Asia Pulp & Paper Co.,Ltd. subsidiary entered China as early as 1992. Today, APP’s products and business span the globe.

“The CIIE not only helps Indonesian companies integrate into the Chinese market more smoothly, but it also serves as a crucial ‘fast track’ to access China,” said Zhai Jingli. She emphasized that the CIIE is a stage for showcasing products and technology, as well as an essential window for understanding China’s investment policies and identifying partnership opportunities. Over the past six years, APP has garnered over $700 million in intended orders at the CIIE, fully demonstrating the strong international procurement power of the expo.

“There is a Chinese saying, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats.,’” noted Xie Yi. The spillover effect of the CIIE continue to unfold, and CP Group has achieved remarkable growth in China. Its agribusiness, food, retail, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and financial sectors have all seen significant progress, with investments covering every province in the country.

In addition to seizing CIIE opportunities for their own companies, overseas Chinese businesses have also actively served as bridges, helping companies from their countries of residence expand into the Chinese market. At the 5th CIIE, Larry Chan devoted extra time to promoting Philippine food products.

Known as the “Fruit Basket of the Pacific”, the Philippines exports a wide variety of tropical fruits like bananas, mangoes, and papayas worldwide. Larry Chan noted that China’s vast market and potential are incredibly attractive to Philippine businesses. “Resource sharing and market connectivity—China’s market is the world’s market, a shared market, and everyone’s market. China’s commitment to deepening reforms and expanding openness will create endless opportunities for Philippine businesses,” he added.

Wilmar International’s exhibit booth at previous CIIEs. [Photo / Wilmar International]

“Bridge Builders”

Over the past seven years, overseas Chinese enterprises and the CIIE have jointly written new chapters of openness, cooperation, and shared futures. Leveraging the expo’s spillover effects, these businesses have quickly expanded to global markets, building bridges toward an open world economy.

One of the moments that left a lasting impression on Larry Chan was Oishi’s unexpected encounter with a government delegation led by Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister at the inaugural CIIE. Following that interaction, Oishi acquired land in Uzbekistan and established a factory there, formally launching the project. Xu remarked, “Opportunities like this are rare and invaluable, and this was one of the surprises CIIE brought us.”

Growing from a snack food company into a diversified multinational food group, Oishi is now actively expanding into more overseas markets, setting up product lines in various countries, and offering new products and services to consumers worldwide. “As a Chinese businessman, like my father before me, I have full confidence in China, and I look forward to starting from Shanghai and discovering even more surprises,” Larry Chan said.

CP Group not only organized 26 business units to participate in the 6th CIIE but also leveraged its position as a Chinese-owned enterprise to help high-quality Chinese specialty products reach global markets, creating the group’s “dual strategy”.

Xie Yi noted that CP Group’s “buy globally, sell globally” approach allows them to assist more Chinese companies in exploring Southeast Asian markets. “We are eager to use our strengths in funding, technology, and cultural integration to establish more platforms for cooperation and exchanges, bridging China and other countries in various fields.”

Zhai Jingli emphasized that the continuous participation in the CIIE also serves as a driving force for enterprises to elevate their own development, broaden their business horizons, and strengthen their influence. “A single flower does not make spring,” Zhai said. “In the future, we hope to help more Chinese companies go global and tap into larger markets and opportunities.”

While the experiences of overseas Chinese businesses at the CIIE vary, participating in the annual CIIE has become their shared commitment. The stories of mutual growth and achievements between these businesses and the CIIE are ongoing and yet to be continued.

Fan Yubin

(Translated by Chen Xu)