In 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the creation of the annual China International Import Expo (CIIE). Its purpose is to expand “China’s opening-up” and turn the nation’s “enormous market into enormous opportunities for the world.” Since 2018, the government-backed expo has been held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. To get more news about China International Import Expo, you can visit shine news official website.

In 2021, over 2,900 enterprises from 127 countries participated in the six-day event, and the value of deals reached during it was $70.7 billion. This year, the fifth edition of CIIE hosted enterprises from 145 countries, including multiple brands under L’Oréal, Kering Group, and Richemont, and the value of intended deals jumped to $73.5 billion. Of those who attended, there were 284 Fortune 500 companies. The message from China’s latest Congress intimated that the country, despite “Dynamic Zero” COVID restrictions, does not want to isolate itself and welcomes more international trade.

The growing importance of CIIE

Government-run trade fairs are not known for their glamor, nor appeal to cutting-edge fashion brands and design houses — even when partnered with prominent institutions such as the World Trade Organization. However, with COVID-19 restrictions still hampering business travel to China and making it nearly impossible for local citizens to shop abroad, access to the massive Chinese market has been siloed. 

Previously, foreign brand teams and independent designers freely flew in for brand events, trunk shows and smaller expos. Since that’s now very difficult, these have largely stopped or activations have refocused on local teams when the China market presence is already established. The threat of sudden lockdowns or cancellations if an outbreak occurs also looms. Independent events run the gamut of these risks, but government ones can often mitigate many of them.

With access to the market largely limited to within Chinese borders, many big foreign consumer brands in beauty, fashion, tech and luxury have flocked to CIIE in past years. Brands are also keen to display innovation, strength and dedication to the China market, and doing this under a government event banner nods to a more formal commitment. The fact that President Xi delivers a keynote address at each CIIE speaks volumes about its importance to China.
Who attends CIIE and why?

As one of the biggest commercial events in China, CIIE is divided into six areas: consumer goods, food and agriculture, automobile, intelligent industry and information technology, medical equipment and healthcare products, and trade in services.

The event also hosts forums and conferences that discuss the latest developments in various sectors. L’Oréal, for instance, just held the first-ever North Asia Beauty Industry Summit that explored the role of technology and innovation in the future of beauty at CIIE.
Aside from showcasing brands in the Chinese market, CIIE paints China as an adamant defender of globalization and international trade. It was no coincidence that the first CIIE was held just as the Trump administration started its trade wars. This year, as an op-ed from Global Times points out, CIIE takes on the extra significance of demonstrating China’s determination to remain “open.” It dispels speculations that the country wants to isolate itself simply to adhere to its strict “Dynamic Zero” pandemic policy.