A month-long promotional event featuring more than 300 varieties of goods from countries that have participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) kicked off in Shanghai on June 5.

Organized by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and the CIIE Bureau, the event has attracted many member companies of four major buyer alliances, including the Cross-Border Import E-Commerce Alliance, the Large-Scale Retail Buyer Alliance, the Comprehensive Trade Service Provider Alliance and the Exhibition and Sales Service Alliance.

A series of activities themed around wine, tea culture, delicacies from Greece and the Middle East, as well as Azerbaijani products will take place during the campaign at Sunland, a shopping mall located in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone.

Many products that have been exhibited at the CIIE are being offered at discounted prices during the event, said Ma Jun, director of the business operation department of Waigaoqiao International Trade Operation Center Co.

For example, a bottle of Chilean grape seed oil is being sold at 60 yuan ($9.38), 40 percent cheaper than usual.

Products that made their debut at the third CIIE last November, such as lactose-free milk produced by Leche Siempre, a Spanish dairy company, will also be available to consumers, said Ma.

Local specialties from Syria such as rose essential oil, rose tea and handmade furniture are also on display at the event. According to Zhu Li, director of the Syria Pavilion, Syrian products have been growing in popularity in China since the country's participation in the CIIE.

Last year, the pavilion opened a shop on the second floor of Sunland to sell Syrian cosmetics. It plans to open another store to promote Syrian food, Zhu added.

Source: Pudong Times, China International Import Expo Bureau