Roundtable with China International Import Expo Bureau
2022-11-09 | Shanghai
On Wednesday 9th November, the European Chamber’s Shanghai Chapter hosted a roundtable with China International Import Expo Bureau (CIIE Bureau). The European Chamber Vice President (VP) and Shanghai Board Chair, Bettina Schoen, together with members of the advisory council members met with senior leadership from the Ministry of Commerce, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, and the CIIE Bureau to share their experiences and challenges of participating in the CIIE.
Bettina Schoen highlighted the value our members place on having the opportunity to exhibit their products to the Chinese market and the future prospects that the CIIE will bring. However, due to stringent entry regulations and lack of clarity around COVID-19 policies, exhibitors faced many barriers to participation which are eroding European companies’ ability and willingness to participate in the CIIE. And Mr. Liu Fuxue, Vice Director of CIIE bureau briefed the 5th CIIE and European company’s participation in CIIE. This year more than 500 enterprises from 26 EU countries participated in the exhibition.
Ms. Zhu Yi, Deputy Director General of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, emphasised the continued importance of European investment in Shanghai. Consequently, Shanghai is committed to creating a market-oriented, regulated and internationalised first-class business environment for foreign companies. Whilst, Mr. Xu Zhengbing, Deputy Director General of Department of European Affairs, MOFCOM, stressed that China and the EU have broad and complementary economic and trade prospects with strong foundations and great developmental potential, especially in the fields of green economy, digital transformation, and biomedicine.
Senior executives from the advisory council had the opportunity to reiterate their experiences and challenges, including how companies utilise the CIIE platform to support business in China, as well as their suggestions and outlook for the Expo. Vice Director Liu Fuxue addressed these challenges from our member companies at the end of the meeting.