Published on: 2026-11-09
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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The -th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is taking place these days in Shanghai. Nearly 200 companies have been participating in the exhibition for nine consecutive years. The strategy of foreign companies in China during this period has undergone profound qualitative changes: whereas previously the main task was to bring the best foreign goods to China, today the focus is shifting to localizing research and development, organizing local production, and jointly building supply chains.
The consistent participation of companies in the exhibition reflects their strong confidence in the potential of the Chinese market. As noted by Yan Lan, head of public relations at Herbalife in China, the continuous participation in the exhibition is driven by three key factors: due to the “spillover effect,” CIIE has ceased to be merely a showcase for product display — it has now become an important platform for promoting localization; government support for the healthy consumption sector creates sustainable conditions for business development; the demand of Chinese consumers is shifting from acquiring goods towards services and emotional value.
Deep localization is becoming a key factor in the modernization of transnational corporations’ strategies in the Chinese market. Cao Shan, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications for Medtronic in the Greater China region, stated: “CIIE clearly demonstrates the growth of local innovation potential and research potential. Previously, Medtronic acted as an importer of innovative technologies, and today it is integrated into the local ecosystem and serves as a full participant in innovation processes.”
The unique value of CIIE is clearly evident in the real-world practices of companies. According to Gu Yue, Vice President of Schneider Electric, nine years of CIIE activity essentially represent a condensed history of the country’s industrial and technological development. Companies use the exhibition platform as a unified channel to showcase achievements: results of scientific research and experimental development, production capabilities, joint supplies, as well as projects of joint research and development in China. This allows companies to keep pace with changes in the country’s energy sector. According to Cao Shan, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) is not just a demonstration platform, but an important communication channel between businesses and regulatory authorities. Such interaction helps accelerate registration procedures and the market introduction of innovative products. Yan Lan characterizes the exhibition as a promising and comprehensive platform with high connective capacity. “The exhibition acts as a megaphone, effectively conveying enterprises’ initiatives and requests to a wide range of interested parties,” she noted.Gu Yue sees CIIE as a platform for “making friends,” which allows enterprises to expand their business ecosystem and build sustainable supply chains.
“From exhibits to products” — this slogan of the CIIE is known to everyone. Meanwhile, the stories of the “regular exhibitors” have long gone beyond just commercial transactions and have taken on a new dimension under the motto “Chinese innovations — an impulse for the whole world.” Over nine sessions of the exhibition, a clear transformation can be seen: from adopting foreign technologies, regular exhibitors have moved to creating innovations based on local production chains and promoting “Chinese solutions” in the global market. The regular exhibitors have become direct witnesses to the powerful attraction effect formed by the combination of three factors: the enormous domestic market, developed manufacturing infrastructure, and consistent openness policies. The Chinese market is becoming a major innovation platform open to the entire world.
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