Seal oil, a treasured product from Greenland, will soon make its debut in China, thanks to Bent Mortensen, founder of INUIT, who is set to bring this specialty to the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) this autumn.

So, what is the story behind this epic journey of seal oil from Denmark to China?

It all began in January. At a promotional event for the 8th CIIE in Copenhagen, Mr. Mortensen was deeply impressed by the scale and vision of the expo scheduled to take place in China later this year. To him, the CIIE represented both hope and opportunity. 

However, China felt like a faraway land. For Greenlandic company based in the remote Arctic like Mortensen's, geographic isolation makes it especially difficult to connect with the rest of the world.

Fortunately, the CIIE provided a bridge. Three months later, a matchmaking event for the 8th CIIE brought Mortensen on a 16-hour journey—from Greenland to Shanghai. The event featured lively discussions, and Mortensen was full of anticipation: "The Chinese market is huge, and I hope to find partners here." He believed the CIIE offered a valuable opportunity for his company to enter the Chinese market.

Mortensen speaks with a CCTV reporter.

Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from the head of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, encouraging the Chamber and its member enterprises to make fresh contributions to strengthening China-Denmark and China-Europe friendship, and to deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.

Mortensen echoed the sentiments expressed by the Chamber head in his letter to Chinese President Xi: "Choosing China is choosing the future."

When a bottle of seal oil journeys across vast oceans to reach China, it serves as a testament to the very purpose of the CIIE: to pave the way for more multinational companies to enter the Chinese market.

INUIT possesses abundant and sustainable resources for producing seal oil in Greenland, and its flagship product—seal oil capsules—has been proven to offer significant health benefits. However, expanding into international markets has proven challenging. 

For INUIT and similar companies, the CIIE opens the door to the Chinese market —and potentially to many other parts of the world. This is a story of deepening China-Europe cooperation in a new era.

The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Denmark. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation has flourished, with trade volume reaching USD 15.7 billion in 2024—an increase of 17 percent year-on-year—making China Denmark's fourth-largest trading partner.

Over the past seven years, more than 30 Danish companies participated in the CIIE, showcasing their products across more than 4,800 square meters of exhibition space. Mortensen learned a great deal from their experience before attending the expo himself. "The CIIE is an international platform that promotes world trade and shares global opportunities. It is bound to play a vital role for Denmark-China trade cooperation."

The CIIE fulfills its role by aligning what companies like INUIT offer with the needs of the Chinese market, delivering tangible benefits to both sides.

For the vast Chinese market to generate global opportunities and truly benefit the whole world, its vitality and the strong confidence it inspires are key.

In today's uncertain world, the global economy remains largely sluggish. Yet, China's high-standard opening-up has become a key stabilizing force for global peace and development. As Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote in the reply, "China has been and will remain an ideal, secure and promising destination for foreign investors."

This is why Mortensen and many other international entrepreneurs now have strong confidence in China. 

"We have confidence in the Chinese market. We firmly believe that the market has huge potential and vitality." After the matchmaking event in Shanghai, Mortensen looks forward eagerly to the 8th CIIE in November. 

The story of Mortensen and the upcoming CIIE epitomizes how the CIIE shares opportunities with the world world. At the 8th and all the future editions of the CIIE, more signature brands and geographical indication products will arrive from across the globe, supported by improved services that help them establish and thrive in China. This is how the CIIE contributes to a more open and prosperous world.

We look forward to seeing this precious bottle of seal oil at the upcoming 8th CIIE.

Sources: Xinhua News Agency, CCTV.com, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Denmark