Foreign officials eye CIIE as opportunity to deepen cooperation with China
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E-mail Xinhua, November 3, 2019
The upcoming second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10 is an excellent opportunity for countries around the world to deepen cooperation with China, foreign officials have said.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Xinhua in a recent written interview that the second CIIE is a time to showcase the strong Greece-China relationship despite future global uncertainties.
Mitsotakis said Greece and China have established a powerful and enduring friendship based on mutual respect for each other's cultural legacies, as well as a strong trade and economic relationship.
"The sectors for which we would like to see further improvement in our cooperation with China include the agricultural sector, investment in transport and infrastructure, the maritime sector, energy, telecommunications, innovation, research and technology and of course tourism," he said when asked about Greece's expectations for the forthcoming expo.
The Greek leader, whose country is one of the guest countries of honor at this year's expo, will lead a business delegation of 68 companies representing the most dynamic sectors of the Greek economy.
Czech firms preparing to attend the CIIE say they want to leave their best impression at the expo, Miroslav Scheiner, an official of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, told Xinhua recently.
"The preparation is going on and we have a lot of work to do as we are attending the CIIE seriously," said Scheiner, who is in charge of organizing Czech firms for exhibition at the Czech pavilion.
The first CIIE has provided a good opportunity for Czech companies to explore the Chinese market, he noted.
A total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations and more than 3,600 enterprises participated in the first CIIE held last November in Shanghai.
According to George Kiondo, acting chief executive officer of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), the expo helps KNCCI members find opportunities in China.
"I can confidently say exhibitions are good for the economic and social growth of Kenya ... We need such events for exposure," Kiondo said.
Sanny Ntayombya, head of communications and marketing at the Rwanda Development Board hailed the expo as "a golden opportunity to showcase Rwandan exports to the Chinese market."
The products from Rwanda to be exhibited are mainly coffee, pepper and handcrafts, said Ntayombya, adding that the Chinese market is "a market which we are looking at trading more with."
He said Rwandan enterprises "are all prepared and expect to benefit from making sales and sealing export deals with major trade partners such as Alibaba and other potential partners that will attend the expo."
The second CIIE is "definitely a very good opportunity to boost our trade ties with China," he added.
Ricardo Cabrisas, vice president of Cuba's Council of Ministers, said the upcoming second CIIE is vital to countries like Cuba.
"It is a fair with different characteristics, because it is open to the world in terms of what China needs, and that is very important," Cabrisas told Xinhua.
Cabrisas noted that the expo is something Cuba's business leaders must pay special attention to, particularly those involved in the country's economic and social development programs.
"This fair is open to foreign exporters, and that is one of Cuba's top priorities today -- exports," said Cabrisas, who attended last year's inaugural edition of the CIIE together with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Nomalungelo Gina, deputy minister of Trade Industry and Economic Development Department of South Africa, said the event will give South African companies an opportunity to increase their footprints in China.
Over 3,000 enterprises from about 150 countries and regions have signed up for this year's CIIE including more than 250 of the world's leading companies.
