Foreign media focus: From "exhibits" to "business opportunities", the CIIE expands the development space for global enterprises

China News Service, November 11. The 9th China International Import Expo concluded in Shanghai on November 10. The intended transaction volume of this year's CIIE reached 85.45 billion U.S. dollars, a record high.

On November 10, visitors purchased food in the agricultural and food products exhibition area. On the same day, the 6-day ninth China International Import Expo concluded in Shanghai. Photo by China News Service reporter Yin Liqin

Many international media and overseas institutions have expressed concern that the CIIE not only provides an important channel for global companies to enter the Chinese market and expand business cooperation, but also demonstrates the open vitality and cooperation potential of the Chinese market, injecting new impetus into international economic and trade exchanges.

Transaction volume reaches new high, China market continues to be attractive

Many foreign media have noticed that the CIIE has become an important platform for multinational companies to connect with the Chinese market and carry out business cooperation.

Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" reported that this year's CIIE brought together 162 countries, regions and international organizations, 4,142 overseas companies participated in the exhibition, and the overall exhibition area exceeded 440,000 square meters.

Reuters called the CIIE the largest import expo in China and introduced the multiple business cooperations reached by General Electric Aerospace Company of the United States during the exhibition.

Reuters quoted General Electric Aerospace in the United States as saying that the company signed sales and service agreements totaling more than US$12.9 billion during the ninth CIIE, setting a record for the amount of contracts signed since its participation in the CIIE.

The Greek financial media Business Daily described the CIIE as an "import marathon." This statement combines "import" with "marathon" and reflects China's unremitting efforts to continue to expand imports and promote international goods to enter the Chinese market.

The Singapore Business Federation pointed out that Singaporean companies have participated in the CIIE for nine consecutive years, reflecting the continued interest of the Singaporean business community in the Chinese market. Since the first CIIE in 2018, the cumulative trade volume achieved by Singaporean companies through this platform has reached 533 million Singapore dollars.

From display to cooperation, CIIE expands development space for global enterprises

Many foreign media have noticed that the significance of the CIIE is not only to display products in a centralized manner, but also to help companies from various countries find partners, meet market demand, and transform the popularity of the exhibition into long-term cooperation opportunities.

In its report, Pakistani TV station cited Pakistani local brands as an example, pointing out that the CIIE has created new opportunities for Pakistani companies to contact Chinese consumers, establish partnerships, and expand exports.

The report believes that the value of the CIIE is not only to achieve orders during the exhibition, but also to help companies connect with long-term dealers, enter the Chinese e-commerce platform, and gradually establish a stable supply relationship.

The report also mentioned that arrangements such as one-on-one procurement matching, subsidies for booth fees in national exhibition halls, and convenient customs clearance will help lower the threshold for exporters from global southern countries to enter the Chinese market.

According to reports from Bernama and the Malaysian External Trade Development Council, the agency organized 29 Malaysian companies to participate in this CIIE, focusing on displaying food, agricultural products, halal products and processed foods.

According to reports, the CIIE provides an important platform for Malaysian exporters to connect with Chinese buyers, importers and industry partners, and will continue to promote enterprises to establish long-term business relationships.

At the same time, the CIIE is also promoting the in-depth connection between global innovation resources and Chinese market demand.

Yonhap News Agency quoted experts as saying that the CIIE provides a good platform for Korean innovative companies to enter the Chinese market and look for cooperation opportunities. Relevant organizations hope to promote technological cooperation, industrial integration, investment introduction and business cooperation between South Korea and China through the exhibition area.

Malaysian media mentioned that German industrial company Jungheinrich displayed German-made forklifts at the first CIIE, and in 2026 it will bring an artificial intelligence-assisted warehouse planning tool developed with the participation of Chinese engineers. This change reflects that China's role in the global business layout of multinational companies is further expanding from an important market to an innovation partner.

Uganda's New Vision Newspaper believes that since its inception in 2018, the CIIE has gradually developed from a platform to promote China's expansion of imports to an important place for governments and companies from various countries to display products and seek business cooperation.