Editor's Note: The fifth China International Import Expo will open in less than 20 days. In October, several participants of the CIIE will tell their stories themed around "great opportunity" to showcase the positive changes the expo has made to the world and how it has helped build a community with a shared future for mankind over the past five years.

Epson's booth at the third CIIE. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

Unlike many large Japanese companies that are headquartered in metropolises like Tokyo and Osaka, Epson is based in Nagano, a scenic prefecture with rich natural resources. This is one of the proofs that our company attaches importance to environmental protection.

Epson has been expanding in the Chinese market through the CIIE as China has also been promoting green and low-carbon technologies in recent years.

In 2020, we attended the third CIIE for the first time and had a booth that spanned more than 600 square meters. More than 30 innovative solutions were showcased. Among them was the world's first paper secure recycler PaperLab that can turn used material into new paper using Epson's unique dry fiber technology. The product received much attention and was dubbed a "waterless paper machine" by media.

During the expo, we received over 500 potential clients and extensive media coverage from more than 100 news outlets, including Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, and China News Service. This demonstrated the CIIE's powerful spillover effects and strengthened our confidence in the Chinese market.

In 2021, we participated in the CIIE again and presented solutions developed with partners from various sectors. To give visitors a better sense of Epson's low-carbon printer, we designed an activity in which people can power up the 12-watt machine by riding a bike for less than one minute. Epson's heat-free technology reduces a printer's energy consumption by about 90 percent.

Journalists experience the activity to power up printers by riding bikes at Epson's booth during the fourth CIIE. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

The CIIE has played a significant role in helping multinational companies raise their profile and further connect with clients. Epson has through the expo cooperated with many industry partners to provide products and solutions to Chinese customers.

I am a fan of Sun Tzu's The Art of War, an ancient Chinese military treatise, and familiar with the famous quote – "If you know your enemy and yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." This is why I enjoy doing market research. In the past five years, I have visited many factories, partners and dealers in China. During the past two editions of the CIIE, I received over 100 government delegations and more than 20 media organizations.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Epson. We will bring greener and more intelligent solutions to Chinese customers. At this year's CIIE, we will showcase innovations and patented technologies related to digital printing and optics to seize the opportunities created by China's industrial transformation and consumption grading.

By Akihiro Fukaishi

The author is the chairman and president of Epson China. He joined Epson in 1987.