Opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo (CIIE)

Editor’s note:

China.org.cn presents live coverage of the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 5, 2018. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech.

Please stay tuned for our live updates.

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All time is Beijing Time (GMT+0800).

 

[11:48] The opening ceremony of the first CIIE is over.

[11:47] World Bank President Jim Yong Kim concludes his speech.

[11:46] Kim: China has been persisted in opening up despite higher labor costs.

[11:45] Kim: Protectionism sparks chain reaction of similar policies.

[11:44] Kim: China went up 32 places in World Bank “Doing Business” index.

[11:43] World Bank President Jim Yong Kim addresses the CIIE opening ceremony.

[11:42] Lagarde concludes her address.

[11:41] Lagarde: Prosperity and peace comes from trade cooperation.

[11:40] Lagarde: China is building bridge to future through trade cooperation.

[11:39] Lagarde: Further reform will unleash private sector.

[11:38] Lagarde: China’s opening-up has improved global living standards.

[11:37] Lagarde: China’s opening-up has built global bridges.

[11:36] IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde is addressing the CIIE opening in Shanghai.

[11:35] WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo concludes his speech.

[11:34] Two thirds of global exports contain imported components. WTO provides framework underpinning 98 percent of free trade, said Azevedo.

[11:31] Azevedo thanks President Xi for his support of free trade, and welcomes China’s heightened participation in WTO.

[11:30] Roberto Azevedo, director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), addresses the opening of CIIE.

[11:29] Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc concludes his speech.

[11:28] Phuc wishes the expo a great success.

[11:27] We hope that through this expo, our partners can understand more about our businesses, our potentials and our products for more transparent, fair and credible trade between us and our partners, said Phuc.

[11:26] China is a major country in the world. It is our largest trading partner and Vietnam is the eighth largest trading partner for China, and we are the largest trading partner for China within the ASEAN, said Phuc.

[11:25] Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is addressing the opening of CIIE.

[11:24] Russian Prime Minister concludes his address.

[11:23] Medvedev says Russians are becoming more interested in Chinese culture.

[11:21] Medvedev: Russia-China ties are based on mutual respect and interests.

[11:20] Medvedev: Russia plans to double non-energy exports.

[11:19] Medvedev: China is one of Russia’s most important partners.

[11:18] Medvedev: Protectionism is unfortunate reality today.

[11:16] Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev addresses the opening of CIIE.

[11:15] Khan: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor impacts South Asia as a whole.

[11:12] Pakistani PM Imran Khan is addressing the CIIE opening in Shanghai.

[11:11] Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban concludes his speech.

[11:10] Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban: Hungary will support the Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese factories are an important part of the Hungarian auto industry. Medical, pharma and food industries are also gaining business in China.

[11:07] The growth in Central Europe is higher than the rest of the continent. Hungary is a strong supporter of the 16+1 platform with China. The country is also a supporter of free trade and cooperation with Asia, said Orban.

[11:05] Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is addressing the opening of CIIE.

[10:59] Madbouly: Our bilateral cooperation has played an important role in our respective sustainable development. Egypt also stresses the importance of the investment and trade cooperation with China and regional relations within the Belt and Road framework.

[10:58] Madbouly: Egypt is here for the CIIE also as a show of appreciation to China for its commitment to the multilateral trading system and to its promotion of fair trade among countries. Egypt believes that China is making steady progress toward this goal.

[10:57] Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly: We believe it [the expo] will bring real opportunities for investment and trade cooperation between Egypt and China.

[10:56] Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta concludes his address.

[10:55] Kenyatta: Expo provides chance to learn from China’s development.

[10:54] Kenyatta: Kenya has one of Africa’s most conducive business environments.

[10:53] Kenyatta thanks China for support in Kenya.

[10:52] Kenyatta says Chinese tourism is good for business and cultural understanding.

[10:51] Kenyatta: Assistance can help African exporters grow.

[10:50] Kenyatta: Lower tariffs will help African exports.

[10:49] Kenyatta: Expo can help close trading gaps in Kenya and Africa.

[10:48] Kenyatta: China is No.1 trading partner with Kenya.

[10:47] Kenyatta says he is delighted to see Chinese companies taking opportunities in Africa.

[10:46] Kenyatta praises Chinese Belt & Road investments in Kenya.

[10:45] Kenyatta: China is a key partner for Kenya.

[10:44] Kenyatta: Expo shows China is “open for business.”

[10:43] Kenyatta: Expo promotes trade partnerships.

[10:41] Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses opening of CIIE.

[10:40] Dominican President Danilo Medina: 2018 is “year of export promotion” in Dominican Republic.

[10:38] Dominican President Danilo Medina: Cigars, cocoa, tropical fruits among top Dominican exports.

[10:35] CIIE promotes cultural understanding as well as trade, said Dominican President Danilo Medina.

[10:33] Dominican President Danilo Medina is addressing the opening of CIIE.

[10:30] Chinese President Xi Jinping concludes his speech.

[10:29] Storms can overturn a pond, but never a sea, President Xi said.

[10:28] The Chinese economy is a sea, not a pond, President Xi said.

[10:27] China will give better play to the important role of Shanghai and other regions in opening up, President Xi said.

[10:23] China will push forward multilateral and bilateral cooperation in pursuit of development, President Xi said.

[10:22] A fully optimistic attitude can be held toward the prospects of China’s economic development, President Xi said.

[10:21] China is taking solid steps to expand financial opening-up, continue to advance opening-up in the service sector, deepen opening-up in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and accelerate the opening-up process of sectors including telecommunications, education, medical treatment and culture, Xi said.

[10:20] Xi said measures announced in April to relax market access have been so far implemented. China has further simplified negative list of foreign investment, reduced investment limits and lifted the level of free investment.

[10:19] China’s imported goods and services are estimated to exceed 30 trillion U.S. dollars and 10 trillion U.S. dollars, respectively, in the next 15 years, President Xi said.

[10:18] Every country should strive to improve their own business environment and solve their own problems, President Xi said.

[10:17] China will speed up the exploration of the building of free trade ports with Chinese characteristics, President Xi said.

[10:13] China will not close its door to the world and will only become more and more open, President Xi said.

[10:12] China’s initiative to expand imports is not a makeshift, but long-term consideration of embracing the world and future while promoting common development, President Xi said.

[10:08] All countries should be committed to opening-up and oppose protectionism and unilateralism in a clear-cut stand, President Xi said.

[10:07] All countries should stick to innovation and accelerate the transition with traditional growth drivers being replaced by new ones, President Xi said.

[10:05] All countries should uphold the principle of inclusive development and shared benefits, in order to realize common development, President Xi said.

[10:03] Economic globalization is an irreversible historical trend and provides strong momentum for the world economic development, President Xi said.

[09:58] President Xi: CIIE is the world’s first import-themed national expo.

[09:56] Chinese President Xi Jinping is delivering the keynote speech.

[09:55] The opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo kicks off at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

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▼ Background

[09:39] Photos: Media Center of CIIE opens to journalists in Shanghai

[09:00] Guests from various countries wished the first CIIE a full success.

[08:19] Xi said,

I believe that, with strong supports and joint efforts of all sides, the CIIE will surely become a high-level international expo which will provide a new platform for deepening international economic and trade cooperation, advancing the joint development of the Belt and Road, and promoting economic globalization, and make greater contribution to boosting the well-being of all people and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

[08:11] More than 3,600 companies from different countries will hold discussions and seek common development with purchasers from China and overseas. Guests will also exchange views about major issues concerning international economy and trade and global economic governance, Xi said.

[08:05] In the next six days, a total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations from the five continents will showcase their development achievements and international image to the world, he said.

[08:00] The CIIE is hosted by China but for the world, Xi said, stressing that it is not an ordinary expo, but a major policy for China to push for a new round of high-level opening-up and a major measure for China to take the initiative to open its market to the world.

[07:59] Shanghai is the largest economic center of China and is at the frontier of China’s reform and opening-up. It has witnessed the historical course of China’s opening-up and cooperation since modern times and has written a splendid chapter of China’s 40 years of reform and opening-up, Xi said.

[07:46] Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet on Sunday evening in Shanghai to welcome distinguished guests from around the world, who will attend the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) opening Monday.

[07:40] The expo will also feature products from over 30 least developed countries (LDCs), including Ethiopia’s coffee, handicrafts from South Sudan and Tanzanite from Tanzania, said Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the CIIE Bureau.

[07:35] Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan said the expo will become another important prop for the joint construction of the Belt the Road Initiative, offering new opportunities for foreign countries to expand exports to China.

[07:33] More than 1,000 firms from 58 countries along the Belt and Road will attend the inaugural China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai, the Ministry of Commerce said Saturday.

[07:30] Vice Commerce Minister Fu Ziying said,

We believe CIIE will help countries showcase their national image as well as serve as an open platform for cooperation in international trade. The expo will help advance economic globalization.

[07:27]  The expo is unique not only for its theme but also for its turnout and kaleidoscopic exhibits. As President Xi has reiterated, the CIIE will not be just another “ordinary” expo.

Besides bustling business exchanges, the expo will feature a forum on global economy and trade with a star-studded line-up to provide thoughts on shared prosperity.

The Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum, with the theme “spurring new vitality of global trade, creating an open and win-win scenario,” will be attended by over 2,000 government officials, international organization leaders, renowned entrepreneurs and academics from over 130 countries and regions, Fu said.

Speakers and panelists will include Alibaba’s Jack Ma, co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of TerraPower Bill Gates, and Jose Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to CIIE’s official website.

[07:26] A total of 82 countries and three international organizations will showcase their achievements in economic and trade development as well as competitive products at 71 booths which cover an area of about 30,000 square meters, the vice minister said.

[07:24] Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony and visit the country pavilions with foreign leaders, and he will meet heads of state and government during the CIIE , Vice Commerce Minister Fu Ziying told a press conference.

[07:23] With the slogan “New Era, Shared Future,” the CIIE will strengthen business ties, open China’s market wider and garner support for free trade.

[07:21]  Lin Xiaonie with the people’s court of Qingpu District in Shanghai said,

The court will respect and apply international trade law and regulations, and strengthen protection of both domestic and foreign commercial subjects.

[07:20]  A specialized court was established in Shanghai for the upcoming 2018 China International Import Expo (CIIE).

The court will deal with four types of cases including civil and commercial cases concerning the expo, the conference and exhibition industry, the expo venue, and commercial cases concerning foreign affairs.

[07:18]  Opinion: CIIE: An important step towards mutually beneficial Sino-Indian ties

By Rachana Gupta

Rachana Gupta is a China Focus columnist, an expert author of Ezine Articles and an active blogger and poetry writer.

[07:16] Zhao Beiwen, deputy head of the World Economy Institute under the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said,

The CIIE shows China’s changing trade strategy and its resolve to fulfill its responsibility as a major country and achieve mutual benefits and win-win cooperation with all nations.

[07:15] The CIIE is China’s first expo event that is expected to give firm support to trade liberalization and economic globalization, and actively open the Chinese market to the world, according to its official website.

[07:13] Volunteers of language majors including English, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and French will provide services such as assisting with guest arrivals and departures, translation and interpretation during the week-long event.

[07:11] More than 5,000 volunteers from Chinese colleges and universities have been recruited for the 2018 China International Import Expo (CIIE).

[07:09] Shanghai launched 25 new tourism routes especially designed for exhibitors and buyers to attend the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE).

[07:05] The plan to conduct this huge event was first announced by President Xi Jinping in his speech at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May 2017.

[07:00] The first China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled to be held in the global financial hub of Shanghai, from Nov. 5 to 10, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai municipal government.