Shanghai: Eziz Sabirov is promoting honey via his limited Mandarin at the China International Import Expo (CIIE). This is the third time he has come to Shanghai for the event, but this year is notably different, with Kyrgyzstan having set up its own national pavilion for the first time.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the young man, who initially brought only white honey to the CIIE, showcased a variety of products this time around, including a type of honey that can relieve headaches and insomnia, while also promoting blood circulation. “The CIIE changed the honey trade of Kyrgyzstan,” Sabirov told Xinhua. Honey featuring a variety of flavors, originally mainly sold in the domestic market, is now being regularly transported by China-Europe freight trains from Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan to Horgos in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region — a key gateway connecting China with Central Asia and Europe.
Sabirov noted that the CIIE has boosted the popularity of Kyrgyz honey products in China and created more opportunities for Kyrgyz beekeepers. He also emphasized that the national pavilions of different countries at the CIIE have offered more business opportunities for small and developing countries. “Near our booth, we can see not only European trading powers like France and Italy, but also countries from Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Here we feel a fair, open, and friendly business environment.”
The CIIE is the world’s first national-level exposition dedicated to imports. The 8th CIIE this year has set a new record in terms of scale, boasting participation from 155 countries, regions, and international organizations, with 4,108 overseas exhibitors and a total exhibition area of over 430,000 square meters, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
A Bangladeshi couple has brought jute handicrafts from their hometown to the CIIE each year since 2018. Through this platform, they have expanded their market, and their company now provides job opportunities for more than 3,000 local women. Meanwhile, booths from multiple African countries are adorned with displays of local landscapes and traditional attire, with staff members engaging visitors with lively drums and dances.
Wang Xin, a frequent visitor to the CIIE, observed that African booths have evolved from simple agricultural goods to more design-oriented exhibits, resembling a “boutique supermarket.” Li Guoqing, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau, mentioned that they are expanding market access for the world’s least developed countries (LDCs). This year’s CIIE has set up a dedicated zone for products from these LDCs, with over 160 enterprises from 37 LDCs participating, marking a 23.5 percent increase year on year.
At the Benin booth, visitors are drawn to the “cream pineapples,” while the Togo booth showcases colorful fans and musical instruments. Uganda’s coffee and chili peppers also attract many visitors. Andrew Gatera, a businessman from Rwanda, noted that each participation brings new experiences and connections with more Chinese traders, facilitating the expansion of Rwandan coffee in China. He emphasized that strong China-Rwanda bilateral relations and China’s zero-tariff policy for African countries have been favorable for his company’s coffee entering the Chinese market.
The CIIE is proving to be an effective platform for showcasing China’s collaboration with LDCs. China has announced zero-tariff treatment for all LDCs with diplomatic relations, including 33 African countries, for 100 percent tariff lines. This year, China extended this treatment to 53 African countries.
Wang Wen, dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, highlighted that while protectionism and de-globalization are spreading in some developed countries, the CIIE provides a vast platform for the world, offsetting external uncertainties and making China’s market a global opportunity.