More Fortune 500 firms to participate in China Int'l Import Expo 2022

The south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the upcoming fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), is pictured in east China's Shanghai, Oct. 24, 2022. The CIIE, the world's first dedicated import exhibition, will take place in Shanghai on Nov. 5-10. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A total of 284 Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders will join the enterprise exhibition at the Fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), more than last year's level and with nearly nine out of 10 being repeat exhibitors, the event's organizers told a press conference on Tuesday.

This year's expo is slated for November 5-10 in Shanghai and expects to welcome participants from 145 countries, regions and international organizations.

The CIIE has successfully held four sessions since 2018, serving as a platform to promote building a new development pattern, high-level opening-up and multilateralism, the organizers said.

Six exhibition areas will display hundreds of new products, technologies and services. Two new exhibition areas will be set up this year, showcasing the crop farming industry area and artificial intelligence.

This year's exhibition will also optimize the low-carbon energy and environmental protection technology areas and expand the innovation incubation area.

More than 150 startups involving in technology equipment, consumer goods, medical care, and automobiles will be at the exhibition.

All member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership have enterprises participating in the exhibition.

The latest session will see a higher number of participants from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative and the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The Hongqiao forum will open on the sidelines of the CIIE 2022 focusing on the theme of "openness." The number of sub-forums will expand from 14 to 24 to discuss hot issues related to global openness and development.