On May 15, a business roundtable was held in Doha, Qatar, to promote the upcoming 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), attracting over 20 participants from the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and various local enterprises. A number of dignitaries spoke at the event.

Zhang Weimin, assistant president of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), said at the roundtable that this year marks the 37th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar, and China has remained Qatar’s largest trading partner for three consecutive years. As several Qatari companies have entered the Chinese market via the CIIE over the past years, China expects to see more at this year’s event. For the upcoming 8th CIIE, over two-thirds of the exhibition spaces have been booked so far and we hope more Qatari enterprises will join us in exploring business opportunities in China.

Wang Weichao, general manager of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Doha Branch, and Ms. Sarah Abdallah, general manager of the Qatari Businessmen Association, also attended and addressed the roundtable.

In the afternoon, Wu Yi, the economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Qatar, met with the CIIE working team. Wu said at the meeting that China and Qatar have maintained close cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1988 and and have since developed a strategic partnership. Joining hands with Qatar’s various chambers of commerce, the economic and commercial counselor’s office of the Chinese Embassy in Qatar has been working to encourage the participation of Qatari enterprises in the CIIE and to introduce more premium Qatari products into the Chinese market.

While in Qatar, the CIIE working team also held meetings with the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar and Qatar Free Zones. Both organizations expressed intention to participate in the upcoming CIIE.

The roundtable was hosted by the CIIE Bureau and the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) with support from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Doha Branch.

By Li Hanmeng