[MOFCOM Spokesman Gao Feng]: Dear friends from the media, good morning. Welcome to the press conference of the first China International import Expo(CIIE). The first CIIE will kick off in Shanghai on November 5th. Everyone is concerned about the preparations for the CIIE and Shanghai’s security and guarantees work.
Today, we are very pleased to have invited Mr. Zhou Bo, Member of the Municipal Committee and the Shanghai Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, Executive Deputy Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, and Deputy Director of the Office of the Preparatory Committee of the first CIIE; Mr. Wang Bingnan, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy Director of the Office of the Preparatory Committee of the first CIIE; Mr. Sun Chenghai, Deputy Director of China International import Bureau and Chairman of the National Exhibition and Convention Center Shanghai Co., Ltd. They will introduce relevant preparations for the CIIE and answer questions from the media.
[MOFCOM Spokesman Gao Feng]: First, I will give the floor to Mr. Wang Bingnan.
[Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan]: Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends from the media, good morning. On November 5th, the first CIIE will kick off. The world will focus on China, Shanghai and the CIIE. First of all, on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Office of the Preparatory Committee of the first CIIE, I would like to extend my warm welcome to the media friends for attending the press conference today and my heartfelt thanks go to the news media and all walks of the society for caring about and supporting the CIIE.
[Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan]: Holding the CIIE is a major decision made by the Central Party Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core to promote a new round of high-level opening up, a major move for China to open its market to the world and the vivid practice of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. At the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, China is holding high the banner of reform and opening up in the new era and holding the CIIE is a landmark project deepening reform and opening up. CIIE is the world's first national expo themed on import. It is another important support for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, an international public product provided by the Chinese government to promote economic globalization, an international arena of opening up and cooperation, and the practical action to build a community of shared future for humanity.
Since last year, under the leadership of the Central Party Committee and the State Council, according to the unified deployment of the Preparatory Committee, the Ministry of Commerce and Shanghai have deeply studied and implemented the important instructions and spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping, focused on the goal of world first-class expo, followed the specific requirements of the “five first-classes”, worked with departments at all levels, and pragmatically and efficiently promoted the preparations. After more than a year of intense preparations, all the work is fundamentally ready.
[Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan]: First, about the opening ceremony. On the morning of November 5th, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the first CIIE & Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum and deliver a keynote speech. Politicians, heads of relevant international organizations, global business leaders, well-known experts and scholars from more than 130 countries, as well as about 1,500 representatives from various ministries and regions will attend the opening ceremony. After the ceremony, Chinese and foreign leaders will visit the Country Pavilion.
Second, about the Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum. Themed on “spurring new vitality of global trade, creating an open and win-win scenario”, the first Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum will be a new high-end dialogue platform for governments, industries and universities worldwide to discuss major frontier issues in global economy and trade. This forum has the following characteristics:
First, this forum has a high level, a large scale, and a new form. The Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum consists of an opening ceremony and three parallel forums. The opening ceremony on the morning of November 5 is for both the CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum. The three parallel forums will be held simultaneously on the afternoon of November 5, and more than 2,000 people will attend the forums. Each forum includes guest speeches and panel discussions. In the guest speeches session, we will invite more than ten heads of the relevant countries and regions. In the panel discussion, we will invite heads of the relevant international organizations, famous Chinese and foreign entrepreneurs, experts and scholars to discuss topics of parallel forum and current hot issues of international economy and trade. After the panel discussion, we have Q&A session which invites the audience to ask questions or make comments. We hope to provide you with a high-level exchange and dialogue platform for discussing international economic and trade issues through the three parallel forums.
Second, the topics of the forum keep closely with the times. The topics of the three parallel forums are “trade and opening,” “trade and innovation,” and “trade and investment.” Openness, innovation, and investment are the three topics most closely related to trade development. Now, economic globalization is hampered, international investment continues to decline, and the new industrial revolution characterized by digitalization, networking and intelligence leads the industry and economic development. Against this background, how to further promote economic globalization, seize development opportunities, and revitalize international trade and investment have become issues that need to be discussed. We hope through the in-depth discussions and exchanges on the three parallel forums, all sides will discuss win-win cooperation, and will contribute “Hongqiao Wisdom” and “Hongqiao Plan” to the international economic and trade development in the new era.
Third, the forum has an amazing cast. At that time, important guests of international organizations who will deliver speeches and participate in panel discussions are: Secretary-General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Mukhisa Kituyi, Director-General of United Nations Industrial Development Organization Li Yong, Secretary-General of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Angel Gurria, etc. important guests from the business community are Chairman of TerraPower Bill Gates, Chairman and CEO of L'Oréal Group An Gong, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company James Hackett, Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc Mark Tucker, Founder and CEO of Foxconn Technology Group Guo Taiming, Chairman of Alibaba Group Board of Directors Jack Ma, Chairman of Xiaomi Technology Lei Jun, etc. Famous Chinese and foreign scholars include Honorary President of National School of Development of Peking University Lin Yifu, President of National Institute of Financial Research of Tsinghua University Zhu Min, Professor of Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies of Geneva Baudwin, Senior Researcher of Peterson Institute For International Economics Scott, etc. I believe that these guests will contribute more wisdom to the forum and provide suggestions for international economic and trade development in the new era.
Third, about the Country Pavilion for Trade and Investment. The Country Pavilion for Trade and Investment is called as “the Country Pavilion” for short , covering an area of about 30,000 square meters. Besides China, 81 countries and international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the International Trade Center participate in the exhibition, and they will not have any transaction. The Country Pavilion presents the following characteristics:
1. The participating countries cover a wide range. The 81 invited countries include not only developed countries, but also developing countries and the least developed countries. These countries are all over the five continents, including 20 Asian countries, 8 African countries, 21 European countries, 21 American countries, and 11 Oceanian countries.
2. The delegations boast high profiles. The participating countries paid high attention to the import Expo, and dispatched high-level governmental delegations to take part in the national exhibitions. Among these, there are 14 first-class delegations (Presidents’ or Premier Level), 8 second-class delegations (Vice Premier Level), and 59 third-class delegations (Ministerial Level).
3. The exhibitions enjoy distinctive features. The exhibition halls of the countries have different features and highlight the characteristics of their own countries. Making full use of high-tech measures and diversified display forms, they show their unique regional culture and featured advantageous industries, covering trade in goods, trade in services, industry status, tourism investment and representative products. During the expo, the related countries will hold various introducing activities.
4. We stick to holding a green expo. All the materials of the booths are modularized and component-based and made from environment friendly materials, which are recyclable.
As the host country, we established the China Hall with an exhibition area of about 1,500 square meters. We take the new development concept of “innovation, coordination, green, opening up and sharing” as the guidance to show the world the tremendous achievements of China’s reform and opening up, and the new opportunities brought by China’s development and co-construction of Belt and Road Initiative. The China Hall consists of eight parts, including the prologue, the part of innovation development, the part of coordination development, the part of green development, the part of open development, the part of sharing development, the exhibition area of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and the epilogue. The Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan exhibition area takes “sharing opportunities, integrating developments” as the theme. There are three subsidiary parts of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, with “Hong Kong Advancing”, “Macao Collecting” and “Taiwan Akin” as the themes respectively, and displaying the development achievements of the economic and trade cooperation of the four districts across the strait, and the new look of sharing opportunities and integrating development.
IV. about the Business Exhibition. The business exhibition of the first import Expo includes two parts: trade in goods and trade in services, and shows some outstanding features like large scale of exhibition, many different nationalities, large quantity and high quality of enterprises, many new products and technologies, and high exhibition and displaying level. The enterprise exhibition cover an area of 270,000 square meters with more than 3,000 participating enterprises, including more than 200of the world top 500 and industry leading enterprises. More than 100 new products and technologies will be released at the exhibition, and the special booths took up 91% of the total area. The seven areas of the enterprises exhibition all have their own features and highlights. I will only briefly introduce three exhibition areas, and will not introduce the others one by one.
High-end intelligent equipment exhibition area gathered most of the world top 500 enterprises, and more than 400 participating enterprises, including a large number of world top science and technology enterprises like GE, DU PONT, Canon, Hitachi, Schneider, Microsoft and Dale. Some industrial robot giant like KUKA, ABB and Fanuc, and some high-tech manufacturing enterprises like Honeywell, Siemens and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will appear in the exhibition to show their high-end achievements.
Food and agricultural products’ exhibition area enjoys the largest number of more than 1,000 participating enterprises, including the world top 500 enterprises like Nestle, Danone, Louis Dreyfus, Bunge, Cargill, Wilmar International, JBS, Pepsi and Heineken, as well as some large scale leisure food enterprises, well-known Liquor and Beverages suppliers. A large number of authentic and featured high quality “specialty food” from overseas will gather in the exhibition hall.
Medical Equipment & Health Care Products area gathers more science and technology R & D products, and collects more than 300 participating enterprises. The world giant in the pharmaceuticals industry like Roche, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, Bayer, Philips, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, and Thermo Fisher Scientific will show many leading and high-tech products. Some new technologies and new products will appear in the exhibition, including the smallest cardiac pacemaker in the world, the thinnest blood pressure monitor in the world, the fastest immunoassay analyzer in the world and the first Nuclear magnetic resonance for infants.
Besides, the automobiles exhibition area, consumer, electronics and appliances exhibition area, Apparel, Accessories & Consumer Goods area and trade in services area also gathered global well-known enterprises and representative enterprises and products in the related industry.
V. about the supporting on-site events. To enrich the contents of the import expo, promote the transaction of the exhibition, amplify the compound effects of the exhibition, we will hold about 200 various supporting events through diversified forms, rich contents and distinct themes during the import expo. The hosts of these activities are not only international organizations like WTO and United Nations Industrial Development Organization, but also domestic central ministries and provincial people’s government, as well as transnational corporations, large-scale central enterprises, domestic and foreign chambers of commerce and associations, and study institutions. As for the contents, there will be six kinds of activities including national theme activities, forum, release interaction, matchmaking and signing, dinner party, wine party, and art and cultural show. The schedule and arrangement of the related activities have been released on the official website of the import expo.
Dear journalists, the import expo cannot be held successfully without the great attention, strong support and active publicity of the friends here and the friends of the media. We welcome you to write report on the expo, explore new highlights of the expo, show the new achievements of the expo, and send the positive signal of China’s expanding of opening up to the world through the media. We will make efforts to welcome visitors from all over the world with better services and environment.
MOFCOM Spokesman Gao Feng: Thank Mr. Wang Bingnan’s introduction. Next, let’s welcome Mr. Zhou Bo do make an introduction.
Zhou Bo: Dear friends from the media, good morning, welcome to Shanghai. Thank you for your close attention and media coverage of the import expo. Two days later, the import expo will lift the curtain, and I am very glad to introduce you the related work on Shanghai’s service guarantee of the import expo.
Zhou Bo: The Central Party Committee’s decision to hold the import expo in Shanghai every year is its high trust in and care for Shanghai. Shanghai municipal party committee and municipal government attached great attention to it, firmly implemented the important instruction and spirits of the General Secretary on striving to hold a world first-class expo, and established the city guarantee leading group with Secretary Li Qiang and the Mayor Ying Yong as the leaders, and with 19 subsidiary work groups. According to the united deployment of the preparation committee of the import expo, under the guidance and supports of related departments like Ministry of Commerce, with the coordination and help of the other provinces and cities, especially those in the Yangtze river delta area, and under the supports from all walks of life of the society, including the business circle, we spare no efforts to provide first-class city service guarantee for the import expo with high standard, strict requirements, rapid speed and high quality.
Through tense preparation for one year, all the city guarantee work is ready.
First, security has been comprehensively strengthened. In accordance with the unified deployment of the Ministry of Public Security, Shanghai adheres to the concept of “safety, orderliness, leniency, dignity and efficiency” and implements a two-level security system throughout the city. At the same time, we have strengthened the dynamic risk assessment, formulated 18 plans including the overall security plan, urban public safety plan and passage gate checks. At the same time, we have further consolidated the security and police cooperation mechanism in the Yangtze River Delta region to ensure that all measures can be fully implemented. On the other hand, we also give full play to the role of the intelligent public security as the general engine to comprehensively improve the level of intelligence, precision and specialization of security. At the same time, we have further strengthened social prevention and control. During the exhibition, we will implement security check of public transport, safety management of dangerous goods, and safety management of “low, slow and small” aircrafts to ensure a safe exhibition.
Second, the traffic organization has been comprehensively optimized. Focusing on the goal of precision, orderliness and controllability, we have strived to optimize the construction of the transportation facilities of the supporting roads surrounding the national exhibition center. The 15 supporting roads have all been completed and opened to traffic as scheduled, and 17 rectified projects have been completed, which have greatly improved the surrounding transportation and related facilities. At the same time, in response to the existing unclear signs, the traffic signs have been further improved. The traffic sign markings were re-painted around the venue, covering a total area of 110,000 square meters, and over 670 signs were set up. At the same time, transportation security programs have been comprehensively implemented, including "three lines, three stations" of rail transportation, ground bus, taxi, team bus, and parking management.
Focusing on dealing with the large passenger flow, we introduced the measures for traffic control at the Expo and the plan for the evacuation of the large passenger flow. We released the traffic guidance APP for the citizens' transportation and the CIIE, striving to make the vehicle and people come in and go out quickly. We hope that friends from the media here will give us valuable advice and help us to do a better job.
Third, we have fully guaranteed the operation of the exhibition. We have focused on creating quality projects, and adhered to the unity of quality and standards. At the end of September, the venue renovation and landscape upgrading project have been fully completed. It is hoped that the overall style will highlight both the “big country style” and “the charm of Shanghai”. In October, the daily and special venue inspections have been fully carried out, and the 24-hour emergency duty-keeping system for important facilities such as power supply, gas supply, water supply and communication has been strictly implemented. The safety production management during the exhibition phase has been strengthened. The “4+1” on-site medical service station has also been set up to ensure that the exhibition runs safely and smoothly.
At the same time, Shanghai will carry out joint supervision services such as on-site comprehensive management, intellectual property protection, administrative law enforcement and market supervision with relevant state departments in the exhibition hall, and strive to build a good exhibition order.
Forth, we have fully improved city services. Vice Minister Wang Bingnan has introduced that the CIIE is 3+1, including not only the important Hongqiao international economic and trade forum, but also the import exhibition, and it is more of a diplomatic event hosted at home.
There are many major events, many important guests, and high reception requirements. And this time Shanghai received the largest number of important guests in history. With the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce, and following the five steps of “welcoming, traveling, living, eating and turning,” we have specified the arrangement of hotels, vehicles, liaison officers, and fully strengthened the accommodation security, food and beverage security to strive to create a first-class hospitality service experience. We have intensively carried out the meritorious competition activities to welcome CIIE, and more than 40 key window industries including airports, stations, hotels, and taxis held more than 500 comprehensive training sessions on service standards and service skills, training 240,000 employees. At the same time, Shanghai and its brothers provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Delta jointly organized more than 5,000 exhibition volunteers, established more than 300 city volunteer service stations and more than 200 volunteer service teams. From October 23, they have provided volunteer services in uniforms. The people in red uniforms here are our volunteers. At the same time, we have provided Chinese and foreign guests with "one-button navigation" service offering exhibition information and city information called through Shanghai's "12345" citizen service hotline, the official WeChat mini program of the CIIE, to fully forge the "gold medal" of the import Expo city service.
Finally, we have created a comprehensive urban atmosphere. In accordance with the requirement that “the management of a super-large city should be as elaborate as embroidering”, we looked at the bigger picture while starting from the small points. More than 700 green and environmental remediation projects have been completed, and the lighting along the 20-kilometer coastline on the two sides of the Huangpu River has been upgraded. The four cross-river bridges collectively “get changed,” and the 70-kilometer overhead lines in the central city and surrounding areas of the venues were all rerouted via underground pipes. Shanghai’s light view at night is more beautiful, the greening and coloring become more abundant, and the street corners are more neat and tidy. With the goal of “everyone is the host”, we have released the CIIE’s logo at the airport, high-speed rail station, hotel, subway, shopping mall and outdoor large screen, and played the advertising video of the CIIE. We used the main media to strengthen the integrated advertisement，and mobilized the whole society to voluntarily participate in and serve the CIIE. It is also hoped to show the civilization of Shanghai.
Dear friends from the press, in order to ensure a smooth and orderly CIIE, we have carried out 3 comprehensive urban security rehearsals and more than 200 special drills since the beginning of September. We have found many problems, improved and solved them timely, and constantly adjusted and optimized the measures to comprehensively improve the level of service guarantee.
The whole city will compete against time and all of us will go out to fight for success. Focusing on major activities and key links, we will further strengthen the synergizing work of demands, ensuring that no problem is missed, and no detail is forgotten. With the power of perseverance, with the spirit of pursuing excellence and solid and effective measures, we will strive to provide first-class urban service guarantees to ensure the success of the CIIE. Finally, on behalf of Shanghai, I sincerely invite all media friends to actively interview and comprehensively report on the grand occasion of the CIIE. I also hope that you will give more valuable comments and suggestions, and take the initiative to support the work related to the Shanghai’s service guarantee. Thank you all!
[MOFCOM Spokesman Gao Feng]: Thanks for the introduction of Mr. Zhou Bo! Let’s begin the Q&A. You may ask questions about the theme of the conference, and inform us of your news agency’s name before asking questions. Let’s begin.
China Daily: What shall we make of the role and effect of the CIIE in driving economic globalization? How shall we take the opportunity to further China’s globalization? Thank you.
Vice Minister Wang Bingnan of Commerce: The CIIE is China’s significant contribution to global development. It also meets China’s own need for a modern economic system and a fresh wave of high-level opening up. First, the CIIE is a key move to advance economic globalization and build an open world economy. In recent years, given the profound adjustments and subdued dynamics of the world economy and setbacks in the globalization process, the international community has a strong desire to explore the Chinese market. Here enters the CIIE, which is hosted by China and attended by the world for ‘sell global and buy global’. As an international platform for open cooperation, it’s China’s proposition to drive economic globalization and build an open world economy, speaking to China’s sense of responsibility and commitment as a big country.
Second, the CIIE is an action on our own initiative to advance supply-side structural reform and meet people’s needs for a good life. As the Chinese economy embarks on the stage of quality development, we can use the CIIE to import quality products and advanced technologies to upgrade traditional industries and enhance industrial competitiveness. Through reasonably enlarged imports of quality consumer goods and services, we can enrich domestic consumer choice and meet people’s individualistic and diversified consumer demand, which reflects our people-centered development philosophy.
Third, the CIIE is a public good driving inclusive and mutually beneficial global development. On the CIIE platform, we can address key issues in international trade and economy and seek common development to fully represent the interests and requests of world trade participants and drive the world economy towards a more open, inclusive, balanced and win-win future of general preference.
Fourth, the CIIE is a policy statement for a new wave of opening up. This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. China’s economic development over the past 40 years was secured through opening up. Moving forward, China’s quality development also has to be achieved through greater opening up. The door of China’s opening up will not close and will only open wider and wider. China will stay the course of opening up to promote its own and global development through opening up of greater vigor and higher level and create more opportunities for all to share in the China dividends. Thank you.
SMG: The CIIE will open very soon. We know that all trade delegations are gearing up for their buying sprees at the Expo, which is expected to be a very hot event. Popularity is good news, but also means massive traffic. Mayor Zhou, how will we meet the challenge?
Zhou Bo: First, we hope to stagger the visits and buying activities with reference to major events and activities through effective guidance. As the host, baring special major reasons, we’ll let more professional buyers from other provinces and countries into the Expo for procurement on Day 1 and Day 2 to manage the traffic. At the same time, we’ll use big data, AI and cloud computing for effective control based on the inflows and outflows of the day. We wish to keep the number of professional visitors under 200,000 for the two days and are well prepared to do our job in this regard.
Second, we’ll also channel the traffic through management and control in case of unexpectedly large attendance. Under the principle of safety and order, staggered guidance, internal control, regional divergence and constant movement, we’ll implement appropriate guiding and management plans inside and outside the venue. Balanced admissions will be used to enhance security check efficiency. All kinds of technologies are tapped such as the state-of-the-art remote security check and non-contact testing, among others. As a result, our security check rate has risen to 200,000/hour, which was unthinkable. We are using many of these technologies for the first time. At the same time, we’ve deployed filter lines and special passages in the venue as precautions against heavy traffic.
We’ve put traffic control notices outside the venue to reduce the congestion and traffic in adjacent streets. All traffic command and police officers of the municipality will be on duty to strengthen guidance and channeling for divergence and management.
Third, we call for and advocate green mobility. First, we urge people to use public transport. The Expo is accessible through three rail lines and three stations with a load double that on an average day. If the three lines fall short of the evacuation need, we’ll operate three docking lines to make the total six. We’ve also increased ground transport capacity, such as buses, taxis, custom and group buses, to meet the mobility needs. In addition, we also encourage the trade delegations to travel by group bus to limit the number cars. Reasonable access routes are charted to reduce the pressure on ground transport. These are our measures and precautions. Thank you.
Gao Feng, Spokesman of MOFCOM: More questions?
Reuters: I have two questions for Vice Minister Wang. First, President Xi Jinping and President Trump had a phone call wher positive sentiment and optimism was expressed over the two countries’ trade frictions. What’s MOFCOM’s take on the latest development in China-US trade relations? What are the expectations for reaching a trade deal? The second question is that can this high-level Expo really address the concerns of foreign companies operating in China? Some argue that the Expo is just an empty show. What is your response to that? Thank you.
Vice Minister Wang Bingnan of Commerce: Let me answer your questions. First, as you all know, a few days ago the two presidents talked on the phone. We’ve always believed that the essence of China-US trade and economic relations is win-win cooperation. China would like to appropriately address our trade and economic differences through equal-footed and honest consultations based on mutual respect to jointly promote the healthy and stable development of China-US trade and economic relations.
As for your second question, I’d like to say more on that. The CIIE is a major move of the Chinese government to proactively open the market and expand imports. We’ll provide important avenues for companies interested in selling into China and connectivity platforms for trade and commercial cooperation between Chinese and foreign businesses. Regarding foreign investors’ concerns about doing business in China, such as IPR protection, the Chinese government takes it very seriously. We’ll take a host of measures to protect their legitimate rights and interests.
We attach great importance to IP protection at the first CIIE. An IP and business dispute settlement service center will operate throughout the Expo to provide professional IP advocacy and consulting and dispute mediation and settlement services for exhibitors and buyers in an effort to create a level playing field and protect the interests of all exhibitors. We all know that the CIIE is the world’s first import-themed national-level expo, which demonstrates the sincerity of the Chinese government to proactively open the market. As I said earlier, the Expo has drawn the participation of 3000 plus companies from over 130 countries and regions, including Fortune 500 companies and industry champions from across the world; and companies from developed, developing and the least developed countries. In order to bring about more deals, Chinese localities and related departments have organized 39 trading groups and nearly 600 sub-groups. Over 100,000 backbone businesses and 150,000 buyers will attend and talk business.
Before the CIIE opens, we organized seven matchmaking sessions based on exhibition zones for key exhibitors and buyers. During the Expo, more matchmaking sessions will be held with comfortable setting for business talks between exhibitors and buyers for more deals. I believe that all corporate participants to the CIIE will find the trip worthwhile and satisfactory. Thank you.
CGTN: There are a great number of countries and companies participating in this Expo. How will the organizer provide good services to the buyers so that they can purchase successfully?
Sun Chenghai: Thank you for your question. On behalf of the CIIE Bureau and the National Exhibition and Convention Center, I’d like to thank friends from the press for your interest, support and coverage of our work.
You asked about the overall guarantee. Just now Mayor Zhou gave an overview of the guarantee at the city level in Shanghai. The municipal government also works with us to provide services for the exhibitors and buyers. To hold a world-class Expo, we are responsive to the needs of the numerous exhibitors and buyers, and commit to provide professional, convenient, efficient green, and international-standard services in five areas: overseas exhibitors, exhibition visit, transaction promotion, forums and conferences, and reception and logistics.
Regarding services for overseas exhibitors, first, we have promoted customs facilitation. The customs authorities and related agencies have customized facilitating measures for the CIIE. Second, the regulators for customs, food and drugs, industry and commerce, and taxation, among almost 20 related government agencies and financial, insurance and trade service providers will send staff to the CIIE to provide on-site services and professional consultation. Third, we will work with multiple translation companies with rich experiences in international events and exhibitions, and set up long-distance multi-lingual platforms to provide translation service online and offline.
Regarding the exhibition visit and guidance service, first, we have improved the signs and guidance system in the venues by renewing and adding about 5,000 guiding signs. Second, we upgraded the “Digital Navigation” mobile application, through which the exhibitors can get access to the digital tour guide service for the exhibition. Third, we have set up more than a dozen information points in each exhibition area and passageway to provide the artificial navigation service.
Fourth, we have printed buyers' manuals and exhibition guidebooks to provide guidance and convenience for exhibitors. Regarding forum and conference services, we have renovated and upgraded the venue for the opening ceremony and parallel forums. Building on the existing conditions of the exhibition center, more than 60 conference rooms have been retrofitted to meet the needs of participants in terms of software and hardware. We have also brought in a professional team to comprehensively improve the conference service.
Regarding transaction promotion, we focus on business matching for major exhibitors. We will also organize supporting activities and events to match the supply and demand. We will open online exhibition halls to hold a digital Expo at the same time. Currently, around 10,000 products are already on display online and have drawn the interest of many exhibitors and buyers.
Regarding comprehensive logistics services, first, we will focus on the operation and maintenance of the facilities, improve the service capacity of the network facilities, ensure sound mobile phone connection at the peak of 250,000 people, and provide free Wi-Fi coverage to the entire exhibition hall. Second, we will focus on safe and adequate food supply. At present, there are 106 restaurants and convenience stores in the commercial plaza. At the peak hour, more than 120,000 meals can be served. 180,000 meals can be offered during the day, including those from special food supply outlets. In order to provide meals for the large number of guests, we also planned four temporary dining outlets, which can provide 80,000 Chinese and Western fast food, and 30,000 prepackaged food in reserve; halal restaurants and vegetarian restaurants are also opened. Third, we have recruited volunteers to provide on-site consultation and guidance. Thank you.
Jiefang Daily: My question goes to Mayor Zhou. Over 3,000 overseas companies from over 130 countries will participate in the first CIIE. As the host, how will Shanghai provide hospitality, catering, shopping, culture, and tourism services so that the guests feel at home? Thank you.
Zhou Bo: Thank you for your question. As the host, we always hope the guests will find their trip exciting and rewarding. This is our goal, but we face great challenges and pressure. When so many guests come to Shanghai, how can we provide a host of logistics and services with the utmost efforts? I gave an overview in my opening remarks. Now I’d like to add a few words.
Regarding hotels and accommodation. We have planned in advance and shared information with the tourism system and major hotels in the city. 1711 hotels in Shanghai can provide around 250,000 rooms. To prevent the price surge, the municipal government introduced temporary price control. According to the latest statistics, more than 1,400 of the 1,700 hotels still have available rooms. The reservation is less than expected. Even during the peak hours, there are still available rooms. The price remains stable and is not more than the highest price in the same period last year. Of course, we need to provide better convenience in hotel accomodation, including volunteers, tourist, and information service.
As Mr. Sun said, we have multiple food supply channels, including group supply and food delivery. At the peak of 250,000 people, we will ensure that every one get access to food, including Chinese food, Western food, fast food, Shanghai specialty snacks, vegetarian diet, kosher, halal food, etc. We have built a food warehouse, wher all the food supply are traceable, so as to ensure availability and safety.
As we receive so many guests, we encourage them not only to do business talks at the exhibition, but also go shopping and enjoy life in Shanghai. Shanghai is working to build four brands, one of which is “Shopping in Shanghai”. On the side of the Expo, we will launch the “Shanghai Shopping Line”, containing the first stores or flagship stores of international brands in China. This was our project last year and it has been working well. More than 50% of multinational companies and brands have opened their first stores or released new products in Shanghai. Flagship store, fashion concept store, outlets, night Shanghai, commercial landmarks, specialty commercial streets and other 10 shopping lines and more than 200 specialty shopping locations are there to meet your personal shopping needs.
To develop cultural tourism, Shanghai is trying to build it into one of the world's most desirable destination. The Expo coincides with the Shanghai International Arts Festival and the Shanghai International Tourism Festival. We will organize more than 350 high-level cultural events, launch 25 well-designed travel routes, and launch a number of multi-functional smart tourism service centers and the "Shanghai Quality Life" mobile application, hoping to create an unusual participation experience for everyone. Just now, Mr. Sun also said that the official program on Wechat of the CIIE has two sections, wher users can learn about the introduction, activities, online exhibition halls and other information. In this way you can learn about Shanghai from multiple perspectives. You are welcome to download and use them and give us the feedback.
To sum up, we hope everyone will have a pleasant, comfortable, and convenient stay in Shanghai. We will work on that, but we ask for your indulgence in case of dissatisfaction. Thank you.
Phoenix TV: In his phone call with President Xi Jinping, President Trump indicated support for some American companies to participate in the CIIE, according to the press release. We are interested in the participation of US companies. Whether and how will this Expo impact the trade friction and trade development between China and the US?
[Wang Bingnan]: The first CIIE, as the largest and open platform, has received positive response and active participation from companies from all over the world, including American ones. Nearly 180 American companies will participate in the first CIIE, ranking third among all the participating countries. Qualcomm, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, General Motors, DuPont and many other Fortune 500 and multinationals from the US will send delegations led by their senior management. This fully speaks to the attraction of the Chinese market and the CIIE to US companies.
As far as I know, some companies, including some big American companies, are considering forming an Alliance of Exhibitors, which proves the CIIE is highly attractive. Companies from all over the world are welcome to participate in the Expo. We are willing to expand imports from all over the world, including from the US. We also hope that Chinese and American companies can make full use of the platform to promote economic complementarily and win-win cooperation between the two countries.
Shanghai Securities News: The CIIE is the first large-scale national expo themed import in the world, as well as an unprecedented innovation in the history of international trade. My question goes to Vice-Minister Wang. What are the innovations? Thank you.
Wang Bingnan, Vice-Minister of Commerce: Thank you for your question. The first CIIE is the first national expo themed import in the world and a great endeavor in the history of international trade. Since we start to prepare for the first CIIE, under the leadership of the preparation committee, with the hard and efficient work of different departments and localities, we have made much progress and paved a solid foundation for making the CIIE a world-class expo. To be more specific, the CIIE has the following features and highlights:
First, extensive participating countries. The participants to the first CIIE come from more than 130 countries and regions. All members of G20, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization have joined the expo. Companies from 58 BRI countries and 35 LDCs are also among the participants. The extensive participating countries have shown the large international influence and attractiveness of the CIIE.
Second, large-scale exhibition. Although this is the first CIIE, the exhibition area exceeds 300,000 square meters, on a par with top world business fairs. We have expanded the exhibition twice, but it is still hard to secure a booth.
Third, large number of exhibitors. More than 3,000 companies will attend the CIIE, all of them are from overseas.
Fourth, quality companies. The CIIE has attracted more than 200 Global Fortune 500 companies and industrial leaders of different countries, which shows that the first CIIE represents leading industrial trends.
Fifth, new products and technologies. More than 100 new products and technologies will be launched at the first CIIE, with some presenting their world or Asian debut. More than 5,000 exhibits have entered China for the first time. With a comprehensive display of the most cutting-edge, frontier and representative international trend of products and services, the CIIE has become a key platform for releasing new products and technologies.
Sixth, high level of display. More than 91% of the exhibition areas have been specially decorated. More than 95% of exhibition areas in the automobile, consumer electronics, smart and high-end equipment sections are specially decorated, much higher than similar international exhibitions.
Seventh, large number of purchasers. Nearly 100,000 company purchasers have registered online for the first CIIE, ranking among the top global renowned exhibitions.
Eighth, the forum is very influential. Apart from the country pavilion and business exhibition, a high-level forum is also hosted during the CIIE. The Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum features a large scale and high level. At its debut, it already attracted about 1,500 people to the opening ceremony and about 2,400 to the parallel sessions. The three international organizations, World Trade organization, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and United Nations Industrial Development Organization, are all partners of the forum.
As we have mentioned, President Xi Jinping will participate in the forum and deliver a keynote speech. The dignitaries, heads of relevant international organizations, global business leaders and renowned experts and scholars from more than 130 countries will also join the forum, which has the potential of becoming a forum of global prestige. Thank you.
People’s Daily: My question goes to Vice-Mayor Zhou Bo. We all know that the CIIE is a key move for us to open our market to the world of our own accord. Why is the CIIE hosted in Shanghai? Will it stay in Shanghai? How will Shanghai grasp this opportunity to enhance the spillover effects of the expo and improve its level of opening up?
Zhou Bo: I think Vice-Minister Wang Bingnan is in a better position to explain why the CIIE has chosen Shanghai. As a window of China’s reform and opening up, openness is one of Shanghai’s largest features. Two thirds of Shanghai’s total import and export and industrial output are contributed by more than 70,000 foreign companies established in Shanghai. Shanghai’s annual total import and export exceed RMB 3300 billion, accounting for 27% of the national total and nearly 3% of world trade. Shanghai is also the largest container port in the world. Our container throughput last year exceeded 40 million. In addition, the spirit of Shanghai is “Tolerance to diversity, Pursuit of excellence, Enlightened wisdom, and Humility”. This spirit, along with the spirit of contract and social administration, has offered a sound basis for Shanghai to expand opening up.
In addition, Shanghai is supported by the Yangtze River Delta, with a wide market. People in the Yangtze River Delta have strong spending power and sense of innovation, thus Shanghai is also a bridge, platform and bond for opening up in the Yangtze River Delta. Among Shanghai’s foreign invested companies, the number of foreign R&D centers and regional headquarters of multinationals, including Asia-Pacific headquarters and headquarters of Eastern China, tops China’s mainland. As for global R&D centers, the number of R&D centers established by Fortune 500 companies in Shanghai accounts for one-third of the national total, ranking the first in China. Among the megacities in the world, Shanghai has the most complete range of industries, including aerospace, shipbuilding, ocean equipment, integrated circuits, biomedicine, power generation equipment, fine chemicals and automobiles. We have the largest producer of automobiles in China. Shanghai has also hosted various exhibitions and international events, such as the CICA Summit and the SCO Summit.
More importantly, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council has set higher requirements for Shanghai based on national strategies, hoping that Shanghai could further open up with the help of the CIIE. Under the leadership of the preparation committee, we try to offer sound urban support services, be a better host and give you good experience. We feel that we are under huge pressure, as we are put to the test by the large number of visitors. Apart from reception and service, we are also considering establishing a better mechanism to further open up at the fortieth anniversary of reform and opening up.
Firstly, strengthen linkage between the CIIE and the Shanghai FTZ. The Shanghai FTZ is the first in the country and is now updatd to the 3.0 version. We have basically completed over 90% of the tasks for three years. Under the guidance of MOFCOM and other ministries, we are planning new reform and opening up measures. Shanghai recently introduced 100 measures for further opening up, including a lot of innovative measures, 34 items. The majority of them are under pilot programs which are introduced in China for the first time, with the support of various ministries and departments, such as in financial innovation and areas with large FDI. Many of the measures are pioneered in Shanghai. We should also further open up and take the opportunities offer by CIIE to introduce more opening up measures, particularly in financial innovation and services.
Secondly, we should not only work for the six days, but “6+365 days”. As Director General Sun has mentioned, we have already launched an online CIIE and offer online matchmaking services every day. Under the guidance of MOFCOM, Shanghai has also worked with other localities to form four alliances offline to provide better and more comprehensive services. We have a country pavilion for display throughout the year. Many countries and SMEs are coming to China for the first time and we are thinking about how to provide them with better services. We would help them with matchmaking in Hongqiao area or at NECC. For example, NECC has a transaction center of 10,000 square meters serving display and transaction of different countries. With the support of MOFCOM, GACC and other departments, we are planning a shopping center for display and transaction of bonded goods, in which customers could have a try or buy the goods.
During the transitional period, we are working hard to offer services near the venue. Some national policies, including trade facilitation policies, are already in place. Shanghai is also constantly improving its business environment. Recently, the World Bank published its latest Doing Business indicator, in which China has made huge progress in climbing 32 notches. As a city of sample, we Shanghai has made our due contribution. We feel that there is still much to improve and we need to work harder to improve the business environment, including IP protection and attraction of talents. The Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security have offered us much support. Some foreign talents are starting their business in Shanghai and students who have studied abroad are making new breakthrough.
Third, we feel that as Shanghai is a city representing China’s reform and opening up, we must strive to give full play to its roles as a port. Out of the goods China imports, many are distributed in Shanghai. We could fully use the policies of the FTZ, services and opening up. We need to work further on this to expand import.
As Vice Minister Wang has just mentioned, people are asking if the CIIE is just a show. I have two sets of data to prove it is not the case. First, we believed that the exhibition area of the business pavilion should not be too big for the first CIIE. It turns out we have to expand the initial exhibition area to our best capacity. There will be the main forum and parallel sessions. Second, the Shanghai business delegation is very active. They have connected with partners and expanded purchase further. It is estimated that deals will increase from previous years because now we have information about the foreign trade companies that are in the Shanghai business delegation. In addition, we should make the most of the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta Region to serve the whole region and the national strategy of BRI.
Besides, we are working on Buy in Shanghai brand. “Buy global and sell global” means not only imports but also exporting goods made in China and other countries to the global market. That is how the CIIE serves the world. We attract quality brands from across the global to better meet consumers’ customized, diverse and different demands. Thank you.
China News Service: DG Sun, can you tell us more about the participation of companies from the LDCs? What are the bright spots? Has China provided preferential and facilitating measures for the participating LDCs? Thank you.
Sun Chenghai: Enterprises from a wide range of countries will show up for the business exhibition, including G20 countries, BRICS, developing countries, countries along the Belt and Road, and the LDCs. More than 30 LDCs have signed up for the expo such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Laos, Malawi and others. Companies from those countries will present their featured products, like coffee from Ethiopia, honey from Zambia, folk clothes from The Gambia, handcrafts from South Sudan, and sapphire from Tanzania. In order to support those participating countries, we have provided two free booths for each LDC. In doing so, we help LDCs to share the opportunities of the China market, participate in economic globalization, and work towards an open economy. Thank you.
Jiemian: The Six-day expo is quite short for exhibitors and enterprises that come to China for the first time. Mayor Zhou, how can Shanghai keep the effect going on after the expo concludes so as to truly make it never end?
Zhou Bo: As I’ve said deal-making holds the key to a successful CIIE. Under the leadership of the Preparatory Committee, business delegations from all over the country work together with the CIIE bureau and the exhibition center to provide all-round services. We have also promoted cooperation between four purchaser alliances, including large retailing, comprehensive trade service providers, cross-border e-commerce, and exhibitions and fairs.
We have also set up a bonded center for exhibition, experience, trade and shopping for all year round. Many people in Shanghai and other cities may wonder why they can’t participate in the expo. I hope the center can serve as a permanent platform outside the CIIE to exhibit and sell their services and goods.
Many enterprises across the country have invested heavily in this regard with strong confidence in the market. All the government needs to do is provide guidance. It seems that companies from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are eager to provide similar services in Hongqiao to buy from and sell to the global market.
There are exhibition centers and a dozen of country pavilions in Shanghai. After the CIIE, the number of country pavilions will go up. It is more cost-effective to put together competent enterprises from one country in the pavilion. We as the government are also working on building more country pavilions. In the same time, we will keep improving online services, including IPR protection, policy consultancy, regulations, trade, and financial services. It is vital to facilitate imports and exports of those commodities. MOFCOM, GAC, and other ministries have a series of policies to support trade facilitation. We are also seeking more measures to enhance facilitation and efficiency, reduce cost and promote trade growth. Thank you.
CNR: DG Sun, as business attraction of the second session of CIIE has begun, could you brief us on the progress? based on the information and feedbacks of the first CIIE, what’s your estimation of the area, duration, and supporting services for the second one? Will the second CIIE be larger and longer? Thank you.
Sun Chenghai: Thank you for the question. President Xi Jinping announced himself that China will host the CIIE every year. Therefore, we have started preparing for the second CIIE while the first CIIE is under way. As of now, many companies around the world have signed up for the second session. We have signed contracts with some of them, most of which are participants in the first CIIE, including Global 500 and leading enterprises. Exhibits cover a broad range from equipment, consumption and food to health and services. A great number of enterprises are contacting us now. During the first CIIE, we will sign participating contracts for the second session.
The overall plan for business attraction has been set. The size, duration, exhibit scope, and booth fee are the same as the first Expo. Some improvements and changes have been made according to the first session.
With regard to exhibition area arrangement, the business exhibition of the second CIIE will contain five areas such as equipment, consumption, food, health and services. Equipment, food, health and services areas are similar to the intelligent and high-end equipment, food and agricultural produces, medical device and drugs, services trade. Consumption has three zones for high-tech life, quality life and automobiles. High-tech life zone will exhibit smart home appliances and electronics used in daily life and quality life zone will exhibit apparels, cosmetics, mother and children’s supplies, suitcases and others.
The booth fee is the same as that of the first CIIE. We will give a 20% discount in booth fee to enterprises that sign contracts with the CIIE supporters and commit to make a down payment no less than 50% of the total fee.
We have slightly changed the deadline. Registration will end by April 30th, 2019. Registration time is confirmed according to the time of online registration. Contract-signing will end by May 15, 2019.
For the second session of the CIIE, we will positively consider setting up multiple zones for experience, activities and negotiations so as to reinforce the support capacity of the exhibition zone, provide well-designed services for exhibitors and buyers. More details will be released during the first CIIE. Please follow us closely. Thank you.
CCTV: I want to know the participation information of Belt and Road countries. Vice Minister Wang, would you please brief us on that? What role can the CIIE play in building the Belt and Road?
Wang Bingnan: As you all know, with the blessing of President Xi Jinping, the past five years has witnessed new consensus reached on win-win cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. The BRI has gained response and support from an increasing number of countries and international organizations. As the BRI friend circle continues to expand, total trade in goods between China and BRI countries exceeded USD 5 trillion between 2013 and 2017.
The first CIIE attracts over 1,000 enterprises from 58 BRI countries, accounting for close to one third of total participating companies, with an exhibition area of 45,000 square meters or 16.5% of total business exhibition area. Exhibits cover a host of categories including agricultural produces, consumer goods, apparels etc.
The CIIE is another important pillar of the Belt and Road Initiative and an international public good for promoting inclusive and mutually-beneficial global growth. In the coming 15 years, China is projected to import USD 24 trillion of goods. We believe the CIIE will present new opportunities for BRI countries and the rest of the world to export more to China, serving as a new platform for all to share the benefits brought by China’s development and injecting new impetus into global economic growth. Thank you.
Gao Feng: Due to time restraint, that is all for today’s press conference. Should you have any questions, please contact us after the conference. We are very much willing to respond timely. Thank you to the three speakers. Thank you all.
(All information published in this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only. )
