Xi to address 5th CIIE opening ceremony via video

President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech via video at the opening ceremony of the fifth China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum on Friday, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said Thursday.

The opening ceremony will be held in Shanghai, said spokesperson Shu Jueting.

The speech by Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be broadcast live by China Media Group and relayed simultaneously on major news websites and new media platforms.

The fifth China International Import Expo, which will be held from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai, gets the final touches before the launch.

Over 280 of the world's top 500 enterprises and industry giants will participate in the event, among which nearly 90 percent are returning participants from last year, according to the CIIE Bureau.

The preparations of lighting, flower decoration and interior setup for pavilions at the main venue for the 5th CIIE are entering into the final stage.