As the world's first national-level expo dedicated to imports, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) has been held since 2018 and over the years has become a platform for China's high-level opening up and a global public good shared internationally.

This year, more than 4,100 foreign companies from 138 countries and regions gathered at the four-leave clover-shaped venue in Shanghai. Covering over 430,000 square meters, the exhibition showcased high-quality, innovative products and cutting-edge technologies from companies around the world, setting a new record in scale for the expo. 

Among the participants, American companies have maintained the largest exhibition area for seven consecutive years. Michael Hart, President of American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in China, participated in CIIE for the third time this year. On November 6 alone, he visited more than 40 member companies at the expo. 

Michael Hart, President of AmCham China, at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 6 (Wang Ruohan)  

"CIIE does actually help us understand how interconnected our economies are. It has been a great chance for American and other foreign companies to meet their clients in China," Hart told Beijing Review.

"Companies are the 'ballast' of the relationship," Hart cited the saying that AmCham likes. Politics and the economy may go up and down, but AmCham member companies continue to operate in China, work with their partners and produce locally, he added. "You can really see our member companies as the most stable part of the relationship—they continue to be here and be committed to this market."

Confidence in China's vast market requires foreign companies to understand and meet Chinese consumers' evolving preferences. Foreign enterprises have upgraded their approach to the Chinese market, placing more emphasis on consumer needs. For example, in the food sector, Chinese consumers are shifting focus from mere taste to nutrition, safety and functional benefits. Foreign companies are actively tracking these evolving demands.

"The CIIE is not only bringing a showcase, but it's also helping us really better understand the Chinese ecosystem in terms of business. So we are closely following this shift," said Jerome Vanachter, President of Lesaffre Greater China. Lesaffre, founded in 1853 in north France, is a major global player in yeast and fermentation. 

Jerome Vanachter, President of Lesaffre Greater China, at the 8th CIIE on November 6 (COURTESY PHOTO) 

This year at CIIE, Lesaffre introduced solutions developed specifically for China, such as low-fat bread improvers and natural yeast extract. These innovations meet both taste and health expectations by enhancing flavor while reducing additives, according to Vanachter. Understanding and meeting consumer expectations is key in today's industry, and this reflects Lesaffre's deep understanding of evolving Chinese tastes and the growing consumer demand for a better life, he added. 

Investing in China not only enables foreign companies to better serve the Chinese market, but also enhances their ability to serve global markets.

Otis, a leading manufacture and maintainer of elevators and escalators, has its largest R&D center in Shanghai, "which really demonstrates the commitment and confidence that Otis has in the Chinese market," Sally Loh, President of Otis Greater China, told Beijing Review. This center drives innovation that caters not only to local needs but also serves global markets, Loh added, "as we do export our solutions to other countries as well."

Sally Loh, Otis Greater China President, at the 8th CIIE on November 6 (COURTESY PHOTO)  

"We find the CIIE an excellent platform to show our latest innovation, not only to our domestic customers, but also for our overseas visitors as well," Loh said, adding that the CIIE offers important opportunity for the company to connect with various stakeholders and gather feedback on how they can continue building a better and smarter future.

CIIE also highlights China's commitment to high-level opening up, which further boosts foreign companies' confidence in the market.

"China's efforts toward high-level opening up are visible in our everyday business. We have been present in China for 40 years, so we experienced the impressive growth and this transition from high-speed to high-quality development," Pablo Machado, Global Executive Vice President of Suzano, told Beijing Review. Suzano is the world's leading pulp supplier, a major paper and packaging producer in the Americas, and one of Brazil's biggest employers. It entered the Chinese market in the 1980s and share the benefits with China together.

Pablo Machado, Global Executive Vice President of Suzano, at the 8th CIIE on November 6 (COURTESY PHOTO)  

With China's ongoing opening up, it has become increasingly attractive to multinational companies. "We have seen China become a top-notch country, not only in size and growth but also in development, technology, innovation and a highly educated workforce. The combination of these unique elements contributes crucially to our business expansion. The more we localize, understand the Chinese market, and align our strategy with the country's development strategy, the more we see our business thrive," Machado added.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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