Editor's Note 
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from April 14 to 18. In collaboration with China Daily, the CIIE releases a special issue, looking at how this platform is strengthing trade ties and economic cooperation between China and these three countries, and how the CIIE is facilitating businesses from Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia to enter the Chinese market and share the benefits of China’s economic growth. 

 2025-04-17 China Daily Global Page 5

The full text of the main article is as follows:

Southeast Asian nations shine at annual China International Import Expo

China cherishes its friendships with neighboring countries, adhering to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. The China International Import Expo embodies these values, promoting win-win cooperation with Southeast Asian neighbors including Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia.

People visit the Malaysia Pavilion during the seventh China International Import Expo at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in November 2024. CHINA DAILY

Held annually in Shanghai since November 2018, the CIIE has witnessed significant growth in both the number of participating countries and the value of intended transactions. The cumulative intended transaction value of the past seven editions has surpassed $500 billion.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have been each other's largest trading partners for five consecutive years. Vietnam has been a frequent participant in the CIIE and served as the guest country of honor at the first and sixth editions. A total of 180 Vietnamese enterprises have participated in the expo over the past seven years.

At a recent promotional event for the eighth CIIE in Hanoi, Vietnam, members of the CIIE delegation said that a large number of high-quality Vietnamese products have quickly gained access to the Chinese market through the CIIE. They encouraged Vietnamese companies to fully utilize the CIIE as a platform for international collaboration and to seize the opportunities in China's expanding market.

Ho Ngoc Quan, deputy director of the Export Promotion Center under Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade, described the CIIE as a vital gateway for Vietnamese enterprises looking to enter and expand in the Chinese market.

He said enterprises' enthusiasm for the expo remains high and that the ministry will support businesses participating in the eighth CIIE to maximize their outcomes.

During the Hanoi event, the CIIE Bureau and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency signed a contract for Vietnam's participation in the eighth CIIE, to be held on Nov 5-10. Detailed information about the expo's effectiveness and its various sections was also provided.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic relations and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges. The promotional event in Hanoi enhanced Vietnamese businesses' understanding of the expo, encouraging greater participation and practical cooperation between the two countries.

Malaysia, recognizing the CIIE's value in promoting international trade, has also actively participated in the expo. During a recent promotional event for the eighth CIIE in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, or MA-TRADE, signed a memorandum of cooperation with the CIIE Bureau to expand its market presence in China and beyond.

The past seven editions of the CIIE attracted 262 Malaysian companies. Malaysia participated in the Country Exhibition four times and served twice as the guest country of honor.

The year 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations. During the seventh CIIE in 2024, many companies, including fresh produce provider Dole and Malaysian-founded TCab Tech, held the global launches for new products.

Syed Farizal Aminy Syed Mohamad, former consul general of Malaysia in Shanghai, said the CIIE is one of the biggest expos he has ever seen, emphasizing the vast opportunities presented by the Chinese market. He noted that the CIIE has enhanced Malaysian companies' capabilities to expand their market share.

"I believe that this is a greater incentive for a trading nation like Malaysia to collaborate deeper with China to further facilitate and synchronize the supply chain connectivity between Malaysia and China. And I believe this is one of the key elements that has strengthened our relationship with China," Mohamad said.

At the promotional event for the eighth CIIE in Kuala Lumpur, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing noted that in 2024, bilateral trade between China and Malaysia reached a historic high, with China remaining Malaysia's largest trading partner for the 16th consecutive year. He encouraged Malaysian businesses to utilize the CIIE to introduce more high-quality Malaysian products into the Chinese market.

Clockwise from top left: An event is held in Malaysia to promote the eighth CIIE. The Cambodia Pavilion at the seventh CIIE.The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency's booth at the CIIE. Dole launches gift boxes featuring Malaysian durian at the CIIE. CHINA DAILY

Wu Zhengping, executive director general of the CIIE Bureau, reaffirmed the bureau's commitment to enhancing collaboration with Malaysian institutions to support more local businesses to participate in the CIIE and access China's vast market, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to Wu, the eighth CIIE will continue promoting inclusivity by exhibiting more products from developing countries and offering free exhibition spaces for the least-developed countries. The exhibition space will showcase the latest trends and focus on fostering business interactions to better match supply with demand.

Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, CEO of MA-TRADE, lauded the CIIE as an excellent channel for Malaysian businesses to enter the Chinese market. He revealed that MA-TRADE is planning to mobilize more than 200 Malaysian companies to participate in this year's CIIE.

At the event, the Malaysia Promas International Business Society, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, and Muhua Sdn Bhd signed contracts to exhibit at the eighth CIIE.

Strong diplomatic ties between Cambodia and China have led to a significant increase in bilateral trade, reaching a record high of over $15 billion in 2024, The Phnom Penh Post reported. The figure represented nearly 30 percent of Cambodia's total trade volume for the year and China was also the leading source of foreign direct investment in Cambodia, said the newspaper.

Cambodia exported 11.6 million metric tons of agricultural products to international markets in 2024, with China being a major importer, according to Im Rachna, undersecretary of state and spokeswoman for Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

"Cambodia sees China as a huge market for the kingdom's agricultural produce," she told Xinhua News Agency. "The purchase of our agricultural products by China and other friendly countries has significantly contributed to the development of Cambodia's agriculture and provided great benefits to our people, particularly farmers."

Over the past seven years, 30 Cambodian enterprises have participated in the Business Exhibition at the CIIE. The kingdom has taken part in the Country Exhibition six times and served as the guest country of honor at the second CIIE. The opening ceremony of the Cambodia Pavilion at the seventh CIIE was one of the top 10 most popular Country Pavilion activities.

As one of the world's major rice exporters, Cambodia has long been expanding its reach into international markets. Participation in the CIIE has opened up new opportunities for the kingdom.

During the sixth CIIE, Cambodian rice, particularly fragrant jasmine rice, captivated many buyers. Throughout the exhibition, the Cambodia Pavilion frequently heard visitors asking: "How much is a bag of jasmine rice?"

"I believe Cambodian rice will become increasingly popular in China," said Song Saran, former president of the Cambodia Rice Federation. He noted that Cambodian rice exports to China have surged post-CIIE participation. "We hope that through the expo, we can bring more natural, pollution-free Cambodian rice to the Chinese people."

The expo has also aided the entry of other Cambodian agricultural products into China, including longan, cashew nuts and mangoes.

In May 2021, a refrigerated container ship carrying Cambodian mangoes arrived in China after traveling more than 1,000 kilometers. This marked the first time fresh Cambodian mangoes were exported to China, making them the second fresh fruit from Cambodia to enter the Chinese market directly, following bananas.

Prior to this, China and Cambodia had signed and exchanged phytosanitary protocols for Cambodian mangoes, paving the way for their entry into the Chinese market.

Six months later, Cambodian mangoes made their debut at the fourth CIIE, attracting many visitors to sample the fruit. Buyers inquired about packaging, quality and ripeness, and left their contact information, hoping for future cooperation.

With the implementation of the China-Cambodia free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, bilateral trade between China and Cambodia continues to expand, bringing more high-quality Cambodian products to Chinese consumers.

The CIIE has also played an important role in enhancing cultural exchanges between Cambodia and China. Air Cambodia used the expo to promote tourist attractions, showcasing representative cultural artifacts from the kingdom such as carved wooden ornaments.

Yin Zheng, general manager of the Shanghai office of the airline, said: "We hope to use the CIIE to build an 'aerial bridge' between the people of our two countries, facilitating cultural exchanges and tourism."

Over about seven years, the CIIE has established itself as a cornerstone event for promoting economic collaboration and cultural exchanges between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors.

With Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia actively participating, the expo not only strengthens diplomatic relations but also promotes mutual prosperity and regional stability, demonstrating a shared commitment to open markets and inclusive growth and paving the way for a brighter future for mankind.