With the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai in less than 100 days, everyone is racing against the clock to ensure the event’s success.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan and Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong visited the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on August 3 to inspect all preparations and planning.

Zhong stated that holding the expo was not only a significant decision by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core to boost a new round of opening-up at a high level, but also a major step by China to open Chinese markets to the world.

Both the CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to preparations for the CIIE. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that the CIIE is not just another ordinary expo, but a major policy initiative and commitment taken by China to open up its markets. The expo is poised to become a top international event and requires careful preparations by all departments.

Following decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and the uniform command of the Preparatory Committee, the Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai municipal government have been steadily carrying out the preparations with positive results, and have realized the objectives at each stage, laying a solid foundation for making the CIIE a top international expo, Zhong said.

For the next step, the minister requested all planners to increase their ideological understanding and combine it with strengthened collaboration and cooperation in reviewing every aspect of the expo, from its venue construction, professional visitors’ invitations, exhibition arrangements, procurement and forum organization to its security, press and publicity facilities.

Shanghai Mayor Ying pointed out that the CPC Central Committee has designated Shanghai as CIIE host, showing its trust in the city. Shanghai is fully aware of this significant responsibility and prestigious honor. Led by the Preparatory Committee of the CIIE, the Ministry of Commerce and Shanghai are working closely together, and the preparatory work as a whole is going smoothly.

Shanghai will firmly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions to host a top international expo and will perform all the preparatory and security work in an exemplary way, the mayor said, adding that Shanghai will further optimize its organizational leadership in urban security and mobilize all districts to guarantee services, bringing the city’s entire administration to bear to ensure the expo is a success.

Shanghai will provide all necessary services and guarantee all foreign affairs activities to promote the city’s image in all respects.

Ahead of the meeting, Minister Zhong, Mayor Ying and their entourages paid on-site visits to CIIE’s headquarters for planning and preparatory work, its certificate center, and its security headquarters, where they met with front-line staff and came to better understand the progress made to date. They also visited the major pavilions of the CIIE to check the venue’s renovations. Wang Bingnan, Vice Minister of Commerce, and Zhou Bo, Executive Vice-mayor of Shanghai attended the inspection and took part in the discussions.

On August 4, Minister Zhong inspected the supporting projects of the CIIE. He checked the progress of the construction of the Xumin Road improvement and expansion as well as the city-access S26 project. On this inspection he was accompanied by Vice Minister Wang Bingnan.