By Hua Yisheng
The second China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. Many well-known global companies hold great expectations for the expo as China keeps its promise to build a high-quality import expo.
In May 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, announcing that the country would host the CIIE starting from 2018.
At the first CIIE held in Nov. 2018, Xi stressed that the CIIE, an event to be held on an annual basis, will feature good performance, good results and continued success in the years to come.
The first CIIE turned out to be really fruitful. On the basis of that, the second one this year has been even more thoughtfully arranged in various aspects such as the exhibition areas and supporting activities.
China shows its sincerity in pursuing a new round of high-level opening up. Since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in Oct. 2017, President Xi has pledged that China will further open up at various multilateral occasions such as the Boao Forum for Asia.
The first CIIE was the world’s first import-themed national-level expo, an innovation in the history of global trade as well as China’s major initiative to still widen market access to the rest of the world.
In fact, many countries and enterprises discovered the business opportunities to cooperate with China and felt the huge potential of the Chinese market on the first CIIE that they registered for the second one right after the success from the previous year.
Just a few days ago, French President Emmanuel Macron said over the phone to President Xi that France will actively support the second CIIE. Other countries and organizations, including the European Union (EU), spoke highly of the import expo and expected to promote cooperation through the platform.
China has taken the initiative to open its market to the world, and the world surely will not miss such opportunities.
China assumes its responsibility as a responsible major country. It has always supported the multilateral trading system, promoted free trade, advanced an open world economy and advocated economic globalization.
As Xi pointed out, economic globalization is an irreversible trend of history and has greatly boosted global growth. What mankind can do is to understand, adapt to, and apply the law of history instead of trying to prevent it from happening. The wheel of history, indeed, will keep rolling forward no matter what.
Based on such knowledge, China has resolutely opposed trade protectionism and encouraged foreign trade to achieve more balanced, inclusive, coordinated and sustainable development to share prosperity with trading partners and reach win-win results.
China believes in common good and development of all countries and hopes people from different countries could share the benefits of economic globalization and growth.
China is both confident and calm. Since 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the New China, the country would like to use the CIIE as an opportunity to enable various parties to see the new look of China in the new era, understand its tremendous development over the years and realize that China’s all-round opening-up allows other countries to enjoy the benefits of its development.
(The author is an expert on international issues.)
Photo taken on Oct. 16, 2019 shows colorful lights illuminate a sky corridor besides the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, venue of the second CIIE. (Yang Jianzheng/People’s Daily Online)
Constructors speed up the flower arrangement around the venue of the second CIIE, on Oct. 20, 2019. (Yan Daming/People’s Daily Online)
The CIIE mascot in the streets of Shanghai (Yan Daming/People’s Daily Online)
全力打造世界一流的进博会
华益声
11月5日，第二届中国国际进口博览会（进博会）将拉开大幕。不少国际知名企业对此次进博会充满期待。
办好进博会，中国说到做到。2017年5月，习近平主席出席“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛并发表主旨演讲时宣布，中国将从2018年起举办进博会。2018年11月，习近平主席在首届中国国际进口博览会开幕式上强调，进博会不仅要年年办下去，而且要办出水平、办出成效、越办越好。首届进博会成果丰硕，在此基础上，第二届进博会在展览安排、配套活动等多方面精心安排。
中国展示推动新一轮高水平对外开放的诚意。中共十九大以来，习近平主席在博鳌亚洲论坛等多个重要多边场合宣布中国扩大开放的新举措。进博会是迄今为止世界上第一个以进口为主题的国家级展会，是国际贸易发展史上一大创举，也是中国主动向世界开放市场的重大举措。首届进博会成功举办，让参展国家和企业体会到对华合作的无限商机，感受到中国市场的巨大潜力。首届进博会刚结束，就有不少国家和企业火速注册第二届进博会。就在几天前，法国总统马克龙在与习近平主席通电话时表示，法方积极支持第二届进博会。事实上，欧盟等各方对进博会高度评价，并期待借助这一平台推动合作走深走实。中国主动向世界开放市场，世界更不愿错失机遇。
中国展现负责任大国担当。中国坚定支持多边贸易体制、推动发展自由贸易，推动建设开放型世界经济、支持经济全球化。习近平主席指出，经济全球化是不可逆转的历史大势，为世界经济发展提供了强劲动力。人类可以认识、顺应、运用历史规律，但无法阻止历史规律发生作用。历史大势必将浩荡前行。基于这样的认识，中国坚决反对贸易保护主义，推动对外贸易实现更平衡、更包容、更协调和可持续发展，与贸易伙伴共享繁荣，实现共赢。中国主张天下为公，促进各国共同发展，让各国人民共享经济全球化和世界经济增长成果。
中国拥有自信从容。在新中国成立70周年之际，中国希望各方借进博会的窗口，客观看待中国新时代的新面貌，深入了解中国发展取得巨大成功，切身体会中国全方位对外开放正为各国分享“中国红利”创造更多机会。
中国正以实际行动，全力打造世界一流的中国国际进口博览会。
（作者为国际问题专家）
2019年10月16日，上海，第二届进博会开幕临近，夜色下，毗邻国家会展中心的北横泾跨河步廊景观灯流光溢彩。 杨建正/人民图片
2019年10月20日，上海，国家会展中心，施工人员正加紧布置场馆周边花坛，为第二届中国国际进口博览会的召开做准备。 严大明/人民图片
上海街头进博会的吉祥物。 严大明/人民图片
