From June 24 to 27 local time, Hua Wei, President and Board Member of the NECC (Shanghai), led a working delegation to France for promotional activities for the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE), and held promotional seminars in Paris on June 24 and in Lyon on June 26, respectively.

 The Paris promotional seminar for the 9th CIIE was co-hosted by the CIIE Bureau, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), and the Paris Branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Dai Junpeng, Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in France, attended the event. Hua Wei noted that China’s 15th Five-Year Plan encourages foreign investment in high-tech sectors, and welcomed French companies in green economy, digital economy, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, new energy, and other fields to participate in the 9th CIIE, making full use of the three signature events -- “Export to China,” “Invest in China,” and “Shopping in China” -- to help upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The 10th CIIE will see a renewed upgrade across all sections, and French companies are welcome to actively register for participation. About 20 representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Paris and surrounding cities attended the seminar for exchanges.

 The Lyon promotional seminar for the 9th CIIE was co-hosted by the CIIE Bureau, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), and the Paris Branch of Bank of China. This was the first time that the CIIE held an overseas promotional seminar in Lyon. Yu Jiang, Chinese Consul General in Lyon; Jérémy Tan, Vice President of the Saône-Beaujolais Municipal Community and Regional Councillor; Alain Labat, Vice President of the Association of New China-France University; and Wang Song, Deputy General Manager of the Paris Branch of Bank of China, attended and delivered speeches. More than 10 local SMEs in biomedicine, machinery manufacturing, wine industry, and other sectors participated. Hua Wei stated that Lyon has a vibrant economy and a concentration of SMEs, and this CIIE promotional visit to Lyon has expanded the CIIE “circle of friends.” China is currently making great efforts to boost consumption, with strong demand for high-quality consumer goods, and welcomes relevant Lyon-based companies to enter the vast Chinese market through the CIIE.

 During their stay in France, the working delegation visited companies such as Kering and LVMH, actively promoting exhibition participation, and held talks with the Paris Branch of ICBC. The French institutions and companies interviewed stated that China is one of the markets most valued by the French business community, and they look forward to further expanding their brand influence in China through continued participation in the CIIE. The working delegation signed memoranda of cooperation with the European Association of Artists and the Shandong Chamber of Commerce in France, respectively.