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Introduction
The first China International Consumer Products Expo, or CICPE, will become a new platform to demonstrate China's willingness to share its market opportunities with the world and contribute to global economic recovery.
With an exhibition area spread over 80,000 square meters, the event is expected to be the largest boutique exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, and is set to attract high-quality consumer products from home and abroad in Hainan and help build the island into a global duty-free shopping center and fashion consumption base.
Plans of China intl consumer products expo revealed
Photo taken on May 1, 2021 shows the venue for the first China International Consumer Products Expo at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou, South China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAIKOU -- Authorities in South China's Hainan province announced the plans of the 2022 China International Consumer Products Expo on Sunday during an activity upon the 100-day countdown to the expo.

According to the Hainan provincial bureau of international economic development, the event will be held from April 12 to 16 in Haikou, the capital of Hainan.

The exhibition area will span over 100,000 square meters, 80 percent of which will be set up for overseas exhibitors featuring fashion, jewelry, food, medicine and other professional services. France will be the guest of honor.

The expo is expected to become a platform leading the global consumer fashion, and well-known brands will release their latest products during the exhibition, according to the bureau.

The expo is co-hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan provincial government.

On June 1, 2020, China released a master plan for the Hainan Free Trade Port, aiming to build Hainan Island into a globally influential high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

Hainan new engine of nation's high-quality development strategy
Visitors look at products in the Hospitality and Professional Services/Lifestyle & Outdoor Exhibition Hall of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 7, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAIKOU-The Chinese economy has entered a stage of high-quality development, and the southern province of Hainan is spearheading the country's efforts to establish its new development paradigm.

With the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan, the country is giving full play to the advantages brought by Hainan Free Trade Port. The port has demonstrated China's determination to push ahead with its high-level opening-up, and will set an example for high-quality development nationwide, said Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan during the expo, which ended on Monday.

The country first proposed the establishment of a free trade zone in Hainan in 2018 and began construction of the Hainan free trade port last year.

The consumer products expo is an essential move toward the construction of the Hainan free trade port and a step toward further opening-up as the province strengthens duty-free consumption to drive economic development.

Official data shows that offshore duty-free sales in the province exceeded 32 billion yuan ($4.98 billion) in 2020 and average daily duty-free sales hit 120 million yuan by the end of 2020, after the annual tax-free shopping quota was lifted from 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan per person on July 1.

Offshore duty-free shopping in Hainan has expanded domestic demand and helped push the new development paradigm of "dual circulation", said Chilli Zhou, country sales director of Zimmerli Textil AG, an exhibitor at the four-day event. "Dual circulation" allows the domestic and overseas markets to reinforce each other and takes the domestic market as the mainstay.

The Chinese economy has entered a stage of high-quality development, and the southern province of Hainan is spearheading the country's efforts to establish its new development paradigm.

With the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan, the country is giving full play to the advantages brought by Hainan Free Trade Port. The port has demonstrated China's determination to push ahead with its high-level opening-up, and will set an example for high-quality development nationwide, said Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan during the expo, which ended on Monday.

The country first proposed the establishment of a free trade zone in Hainan in 2018 and began construction of the Hainan free trade port last year.

The consumer products expo is an essential move toward the construction of the Hainan free trade port and a step toward further opening-up as the province strengthens duty-free consumption to drive economic development.

Official data shows that offshore duty-free sales in the province exceeded 32 billion yuan ($4.98 billion) in 2020 and average daily duty-free sales hit 120 million yuan by the end of 2020, after the annual tax-free shopping quota was lifted from 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan per person on July 1.

Offshore duty-free shopping in Hainan has expanded domestic demand and helped push the new development paradigm of "dual circulation", said Chilli Zhou, country sales director of Zimmerli Textil AG, an exhibitor at the four-day event. "Dual circulation" allows the domestic and overseas markets to reinforce each other and takes the domestic market as the mainstay.

On April 8, China released a guideline to support the easing of market access in sectors including culture, medical services and education in Hainan Free Trade Port, among other efforts to build the province into a globally influential, high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.

Direct foreign investment grew from $340 million in 2017 to $3.03 billion in 2020, and the number of new foreign-invested companies expanded to nearly three times the number in 2019, according to the provincial government.

"We are confident in Hainan as the local government has provided us with much support, and we are convinced that the country has great potential for high-quality development as it consistently furthers opening-up," said Woody Lam, managing director of Savills Southern China.

Since April 2018, 40 centrally administered State-owned enterprises have also established strategic cooperative partnerships with Hainan, and the number of new private companies totaled 307,400 in 2020, up 28.3 percent over the previous year.

Shanghai-based Fosun International Ltd has for 25 years been ramping up its layout on the island in sectors including tourism.

"We will introduce more quality global industries into the development of the Hainan FTP using our global supply chain to sustain high-quality development," said Guo Guangchang, chairman and executive director of the company, at the expo.

E-commerce platforms bring foreign brands closer to Chinese consumers
Visitors pass Suning International's booth at the China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, Hainan province, on Tuesday. [Photo by Luo Yunfei/China News Service]

HAIKOU-As the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift to online shopping and created a surge in cross-border e-commerce imports in China, e-commerce platforms are bringing global brands closer to the world's most promising consumer market.

On the first day of the China International Consumer Products Expo, Tmall Global, an online marketplace of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, held four livestreaming sessions to promote products, each garnering more than 1 million views.

At the four-day expo, Tmall Global showcased products from over 100 foreign brands, including cosmetics, beauty devices, smart pet devices and wines.

Amid the COVID-19, cross-border e-commerce has become an important platform for brands from home and abroad to market new products. Over 100 brands signed strategic agreements with Tmall Global on Friday, with the goal to sell their new products displayed at the expo via Tmall in the coming year to meet surging demand from Chinese consumers.

"The consumer products expo not only serves as an important window to display the progress of the Hainan Free Trade Port construction, but also helps foreign businesses better understand the Chinese market," said Marcella Li, head of Global Business Development and Operations at Tmall Global.

Last year, an average of approximately 400 overseas brands opened stores on Tmall Global each month, according to the company. To date, more than 29,000 overseas brands from 87 countries and regions have established storefronts on Tmall Global.

At the expo, JD Worldwide, the platform for imported products by China's leading retailer JD, displayed a number of smart foreign products.

"With the pandemic keeping Chinese customers from shopping overseas, the demand for international brands in China has increased, and cross-border e-commerce platforms have become their preferred choice," said Frank Yu, general manager of marketing and operations for JD Worldwide.

Since its launch in 2015, JD Worldwide has attracted nearly 20,000 overseas brands, offering a vast range of product categories including maternal and child care, nutrition and healthcare, household and kitchenware, food and car accessories.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, consumer goods imports into China grew 8.2 percent in 2020, reaching 1.57 trillion yuan ($242 billion).

Such growth was echoed on JD Worldwide during the 2020 Singles' Day shopping festival, with total sales during the period up 50 percent year-on-year.

In 2020, the e-commerce platform opened its first brick-and-mortar duty-free store in Sanya, Hainan, and plans to open an online duty-free shop soon.

JD Worldwide will seize opportunities brought by the Hainan Free Trade Port to promote the upgrading of consumption of Chinese consumers, said Han Rui, vice-president of JD.com.

With a total population of over 1.4 billion and more than 400 million middle-income residents, China has become the world's most promising consumer market.

Foreign brands are attaching great importance to the Chinese market, especially amid the pandemic, said Viya, one of the most well-known e-commerce livestreaming anchors in China, at the expo.

"Some tailored products are designed exclusively for our customers and the products are not only sold in China but also abroad, as design philosophies featuring Chinese characteristics are gaining momentum worldwide," she said.

E-commerce platforms are a channel for Chinese consumers to purchase quality foreign-branded products without going abroad, and are also conducive to promoting China's products to the world, she added.

Kazunori Tokura, executive vice-president of Japanese company Omron Healthcare (China), said Omron expects to accelerate its entry into the Chinese market. The company is willing to cooperate with local firms such as e-commerce platforms to help more customers become familiar with their products and services, he said.

Island province to use FTP status for more global reach
A yacht on display at the China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Wei/China Daily]

China's further opening-up efforts, COVID recovery highlighted in expo

HAIKOU-As comprehensive reforms are being deepened and high-level opening-up policies are being put in place, China's southern island province of Hainan is transforming itself into a free trade port for the world.

Last June, China released a master plan to build the island into a globally influential and high-level free trade port by the middle of the century. The China International Consumer Products Expo is the latest testament to China's opening-up commitment.

The CICPE, a new annual national level expo and the first international expo on the island, attracted 648 companies and more than 1,300 brands from 69 countries and regions. The expo, which concluded on Monday, comprised 80,000 square meters, including 60,000 sq m of international exhibition space featuring products like cosmetics, automobiles, yachts and clothing.

The Chinese government has held an open attitude through the expo, which will greatly promote economic and trade globalization, said Kazunori Tokura, executive vice-president of Omron Healthcare (China). He said the Hainan Free Trade Port can promote more global trade exchanges, which is of great help to accelerating the introduction of Omron's foreign products to China.

With a total population of over 1.4 billion and more than 400 million middle-income residents, China has become the world's most promising consumer market.

Official data shows that despite the impact of COVID-19 last year, China's consumer products imports rose by 8.2 percent year-on-year to 1.57 trillion yuan ($241.9 billion).

Hainan could become the world's biggest duty-free market at current growth rates, according to a KPMG/Moodie Davitt white paper on Hainan released on Friday.

"While traditional sector hot spots saw their sales plummet, Hainan's duty-free revenue soared to around $5 billion," read the paper, highlighting the triumph of a pro-business, pro-consumer, pro-Hainan policy that has succeeded beyond all expectations.

Hainan has implemented policies such as visa-free entry, offshore duty-free shopping and a tax-exempt import list. Many exhibitors said that a series of preferential policies provided a good channel for overseas brands to enter the Chinese market.

Paolo Bazzoni, chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, said the expo will definitely push the local consumption of quality goods and, at the same time, let the world know that China is recovering from the pandemic and ready to lead quality retailing.

As the broader economy continues to recover on a firm footing, China's retail sales of consumer goods-a major indicator of consumption strength-picked up further. In the first quarter, retail sales surged 33.9 percent year-on-year to 10.5 trillion yuan.

"By holding the expo, we will give further play to the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port, effectively promote the accumulation of high-end goods, capital, talent and other resources and vigorously promote the development of the services sector, such as exhibitions, modern logistics, commerce and trade, and circulation and design," said Rong Yansong, deputy director of the Hainan provincial department of commerce.

From an underdeveloped frontier outpost before the 1980s to the country's youngest province and largest special economic zone by 1988, Hainan is the epitome of China's opening-up. Since it assumed its new role as a free trade port, pioneering policies facilitating free and convenient trade in goods and services have been rolled out one after another.

The island is actively improving its domestic and international connectivity. According to its government plan, the number of domestic and foreign air routes will be increased to 646 during the 2021-25 period, reaching 200 cities worldwide with a passenger throughput of 60 million.

Twenty more domestic and foreign trade routes will be opened, reaching 100 ports around the world and with a cargo throughput of 266 million tons, an increase of 20 percent during the five-year period.

After the island begins operating as a free trade port in 2025, Hainan is expected to become a mecca for global tourists, merchants and investors.

"The appeal of the expo shows the effectiveness of the opening-up policy of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the optimization of its business environment," said Fabrice Megarbane, CEO of L'Oreal China. "Relying on the expo to develop the tourism retail market in Hainan will further release the consumption potential of China," Megarbane said.

Highlights of 1st consumer goods expo
An aerial photo shows the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, the venue of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 9, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

The first China International Consumer Products Expo concluded on Monday in Haikou, the capital of South China's Hainan province. The expo has provided a new platform for global enterprises to showcase their quality products and share the development opportunities brought by the Chinese market. Let's take a look at some highlights and achievements from the expo.

People walk into the venue of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 7, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

A total of 70 countries and regions were represented at the four-day expo, and 2,628 brands under 1,505 enterprises from home and abroad participated in the exhibitions.

Photo taken by smartphone shows people walk into the venue of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 10, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

Covering 80,000 square meters, the expo attracted more than 240,000 normal visitors, 30,000 buyers and professional visitors, as well as nearly 1,000 journalists from more than 160 news media outlets from home and abroad.

People visit the Hainan Exhibition Area during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 7, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

During the three days ending May 9, the Hainan pavilion attracted about 20,000 visitors, with 103.1 million yuan in tentative deals and 1.54 billion yuan in definitive deals.

A exhibitor from South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region introduces products on a livestream session during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 9, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

The boutique livestreaming rooms established during the expo attracted more than 16 million viewers, with total transactions covering over 960,000 products, worth 68 million yuan.

Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows a car on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The expo featured more than 130 events, including 93 new product debuts, 12 matchmaking conferences, and 23 investment promotional activities.

Han Shengjian (front), director of the Hainan bureau of international economic development, speaks at the closing ceremony press conference of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 10, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

A total of 83 new product debut events were organized for global brands, while 10 local product promotional events were held for domestic exhibitors, with more than 550 new products launched.

Various reports are displayed at the booth of consultancy EY China during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 9, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

Some renowned research institutions and think tanks from home and abroad released a series of reports and initiatives, such as a travel retail white paper by KPMG and Moodie Davitt Report.

People visit the Fashion Life Exhibition Hall of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 7, 2021.[Photo/Xinhua]

Based on preliminary statistics, more than 80 percent of exhibitors expressed a willingness to participate in the second CICPE, including L'Oreal, Shiseido, Tapestry and KPMG.

Duty-free stores in Hainan record surge in sales
This photo taken on April 19, 2021, shows staff members helping customers at a duty-free store in Boao, Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Total sales at Hainan's offshore duty-free stores in the first quarter of 2021 reached 13.6 billion yuan ($2.1 billion), a rise of 356 percent on the COVID-hit first quarter of 2020, Hainan Governor Feng Fei told guests at the China International Consumer Products Expo opening forum on Friday, according to the Moodie Davitt Report.

Consumer activity has recovered strongly, the governor said, noting that the implementation of Hainan's Free Trade Port project has driven demand as has the introduction of the enhanced duty-free shopping policy last July.

According to statistics from China's Haikou Customs, in the first quarter of this year, around 1.79 million people purchased 17.75 million items in the island province's duty-free shops during the quarter, up 176.8 percent and 327.7 percent year-on-year, respectively.

Last year, China raised the annual cap on zero import duty to 100,000 yuan for each traveler departing from the tropical island to encourage more spending.

By the end of 2020, offshore duty-free business in Hainan was worth approximately $5 billion, boosted by the enhanced shopping policy, said the report.

"I have witnessed the regular improvement to the offshore duty-free shopping regulations, including of course the major enhancement to the policy in July 2020. This was a game changer for the duty-free and travel retail industry not only in Hainan but for the world," said Martin Moodie, founder and chairman of the Moodie Davitt Report.

China International Consumer Products Expo concludes in Hainan
People visit the Hainan Exhibition Area during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 7, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAIKOU -- The first China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) concluded on Monday in Haikou, the capital of South China's Hainan province.

A total of 70 countries and regions attended the four-day expo, and 2,628 brands of 1,505 enterprises from home and abroad participated in the exhibitions. The expo also attracted more than 240,000 visitors and covered 80,000 square meters. The expo is the first-ever held by China to focus on quality consumer goods at the national level, the organizer said.

The first batch of companies totaling 42 from sectors including fashion, life services, travel services, service consumption, food, health products, and jewelry have signed up for the second CICPE. Over 80 percent of exhibitors this year have expressed willingness to participate in the second CICPE.

First batch of companies sign up for 2nd China consumer products expo
People visit the Hainan Exhibition Area during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 7, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAIKOU - The first batch of companies from home and abroad have signed up for the second China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) on Monday.

A total of 42 enterprises, including US luxury fashion company Tapestry, Italian luxury brand ETRO and international consulting firm Deloitte, have signed up to participate in the second CICPE, with the dates for the event to be announced at a later time.

The companies that have signed up are from sectors including fashion life services, travel services, service consumption, food and health products and jewelry, according to the organizer.

Running from May 7 to 10, the inaugural CICPE in Haikou, capital of the southern island province of Hainan, is China's first national expo focusing on consumer products.

Covering 80,000 square meters of exhibition space, the first CICPE featured 648 overseas companies and 1,365 brands from 69 countries and regions.

Consumer products expo opens to public
Photo taken on May 9, 2021 shows domestically produced keyboards on display in the Provinces, Municipalities, Autonomous Regions of China Exhibition Hall during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The China International Consumer Products Expo currently underway in Haikou, capital of Hainan province, formally opens to the public on Monday, People's Daily reported.

A total of 50,000 tickets, priced at 20 yuan each, have been sold out, according to the Secretariat of the Organizing Committee of the expo.

In order to attract more buyers and audience, domestic exhibitors are showcasing time-honored eye-catching products, which have become highlights during the expo.

Miao Embroidery from Guizhou province, Xuan paper, a well-known handmade paper from Anhui province, Shanghai's White Rabbit candy, Beijing's Daoxiangcun snack and Tianjin's fried dough twists are attracting many visitors during the expo.

The expo, the first national expo focusing on consumer products held by China, has attracted 857 domestic enterprises showcasing over 1,263 brands, covering 20,000 square meters. Some well-known domestic brands such as Huawei, Gree, BYD Auto, Kweichow Moutai, TCM pharmacy Tongrentang, FAW Hongqi are attending the event.

The expo is a new platform to satisfy people's aspirations for better life, said Justin Yifu Lin, a senior economist and honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University. It provides new opportunities for Hainan's high-quality development, and help push the new development paradigm of "dual circulation" with quality consumption, he added.

The number of China's middle-income residents is expected to be 800 million by 2035, which is a huge opportunity for both China and the world, Lin said. "The growth of new consumers, plus the demand upgrade of existing consumers, is worth tapping for the world."

As the most important event for China's monthlong campaign promoting consumption in May, the expo running until May 10 builds exhibition and trading platform for domestic and global brands.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Tianjin has organized 19 local enterprises covering food, clothing, drinking, bicycles and watches to attend the expo, helping time-honored brands and startup brands to develop domestic and global markets.

Henan and Fujian provinces also sent 26 and 30 enterprises respectively to attend the expo, driving local brands going to the world and promoting foreign trade cooperation.

Highlights of China International Consumer Products Expo
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows jewellery on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows a car on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows perfumes on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows a black diamond weighing 88 carats on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows a fashion booth during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows watches on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows a vehicle on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows different kinds of alcoholic drinks on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on May 8, 2021 shows a pair of shoes on display during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

 

Hainan to hold Design Week, Italy is first partner
Lucia Pasqualini (L), consul general of Italy in Guangzhou, attends the launch ceremony of the first Hainan Design Week in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 8, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAIKOU - China's southern resort island Hainan will hold the first Hainan Design Week in November, featuring Italy as the first partner country, according to a launch ceremony of the event held Saturday.

With a theme on the creative economy and business of design, the event aims to lure enterprises and talent, build brands, and boost consumption, the organizer said.

The launch ceremony of the event took place during the first China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), which kicked off Thursday in Haikou, the capital city of Hainan. The four-day expo is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors.

Lucia Pasqualini, consul general of Italy in Guangzhou, said the CICPE is a great success, and it is meaningful to launch Hainan Design Week at the expo.

"I believe that Hainan Design Week will give Italian enterprises a platform to build a better business environment with Hainan," she added.

Omron Healthcare China pledges improved tech for healthcare
By Cheng Yu
Zhao Yao, managing director of Omron Healthcare China, delivers a keynote speech at the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo in May 2021. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Japanese leading healthcare brand Omron Healthcare will continue to leverage technological innovations to help more consumers in the Chinese market, according to its top executive at the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo on Saturday.

Zhao Yao, managing director of Omron Healthcare China, said the company will strive to further improve the technology to promote healthcare awareness, as well as digital transformation across the country.

"In the future, Omron will continue to offer a groundbreaking chronic disease management service model for consumers, and aim to drive breakthrough innovations in chronic disease management in China and across the world," he said.

Zhao made the remarks as the company launched six new predictive electronic thermometer products to meet rising demand for convenient body temperature monitoring in the country. The new products can complete temperature measurement in as fast as 15 seconds.

Omron Healthcare's latest products were exhibited at the expo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On Saturday, Omron Healthcare also signed with seven chain pharmacies, including JD Health, to launch MMC, or metabolic management center, health convenience stores.

A MMC health convenience store mainly helps patients with daily chronic disease screening services, such as hypertension, arteriosclerosis, fundus disease and lung function.

Last year, the company cooperated with 11 leading chain pharmacies to offer such services to more than 40,000 consumers.

Nestle launches 29 new products in China
By He Wei and Ma Zhiping in Haikou, Hainan province
Visitors take a look at KitKat chocolates at Nestle's booth at the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, Hainan province, on May 8. [Photo by He Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

Global food and beverage giant Nestle is debuting 29 products in China at the first China International Consumer Products Expo, demonstrating its continued commitment to the local market.

Highlights include the introduction of Vital Proteins, a brand under Nestle Health Science known for fitness and nutritious food offerings, as well as Nestle International Travel Retail, a business unit providing confectionary brands in limited portfolios and packaging exclusive to travel retail channels, such as airports and cruise ships.

Under China's dual-circulation development pattern, Hainan, as the new international tourism consumption center, is growing rapidly, bringing new growth opportunities for global consumption, said Rashid Qureshi, chairman and CEO of Nestle China.

"Nestle also hopes to actively participate in the big trend and share the new opportunities with Chinese consumers," he said in a written statement.

The duty free economy is boosting domestic spending by leading a consumption pattern that favors quality and trending products, said David Fang, vice-president of Nestle China.

"When speaking of duty free shopping, we normally refer to the purchase of those mid-to-high-end goods, which are 'boutique' in nature," he said. "When people have easier access to duty free merchandise, they naturally manage to recognize more leading brands, thus fostering this habit of consuming quality products in the long run."

He also highlighted the favorable policies of Hainan, whose negative list for foreign investment is "among the shortest across free trade zones nationwide".

"This would facilitate companies like Nestle to introduce more brands to meet Chinese people's rising demand for quality products," he said.

Expo gives digital renminbi a boost
By He Wei and Ma Zhiping in Haikou, Hainan province
China Construction Bank accepts digital currency payment via an automated coffee stand at the China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, Hainan province on May 7. [Photo by He Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

China is turbocharging the pilot use of digital currency nationwide through an array of campaigns to boost consumption.

One latest example is the promotion of digital renminbi at the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital city of Hainan province, where banks encourage the adoption of the new function through various incentives like steep discounts on certain merchandise.

At the expo, two autonomous coffee machines at a China Construction Bank booth allow visitors to purchase tailor-made beverages using digital currency. This novel payment method slashes nine yuan off the original price of 9.9 yuan ($1.54) per cup, compared with more conventional channels like Alipay and WeChat Pay.

To enjoy such perks, people need to possess a debit account at the bank, activate the digital currency function through a few taps on their smartphones, and transfer some cash from the bank account to the digital currency vehicle. The entire process takes around two to three minutes.

Agricultural Bank of China, another State-owned lender, is using similar tactics to attract users. At present, digital currencies are only available at banks where people have debit card accounts.

Shanghai is also leveraging a citywide 5-5 shopping festival to accelerate the pace of digital currency adoption. Pilot use of the digital currency has become available in the downtown pedestrian area of Nanjing Road, where a string of local retailers accept the payment method.

Experts hail China Intl Consumer Products Expo
A woman looks at products in the Jewelry Exhibition Hall of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan province, May 7, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Economists and experts believe that the first China International Consumer Products Expo that kicked off on Thursday offers a platform for companies that seek opportunities in the Chinese market and China's opening-up efforts will help with the global economic recovery.

Covering 80,000 square meters, the expo held in Haikou, China's southern Hainan province, is the largest consumer goods expo in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the organizers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory message to the expo, saying the expo, serving as a global platform of displaying and trading high-end consumer products, is conducive to all countries sharing opportunities provided by the Chinese market and conducive to global economic recovery and growth.

It will also enable China to offer the world more quality consumer products, he added.

Fabrice Megarbane, L'Oreal's president for north Asia zone and chief executive officer of L'Oreal China, said that the expo is a boutique trading platform gathering resources in the global consumer sector, and provides new opportunities for global consumer brands to enter the huge Chinese market.

The opening of the expo demonstrates China's determination to further improve the level of its opening-up, and L'Oreal has full confidence in the future of the Chinese market, he said.

Natee Taweerifuengfung, president of the Thailand-based Siam think tank and vice president of the Panyapiwat Institute of Management, said that the expo is part of China's series of efforts to further reform and open up its economy, and China's large consumer market offers massive development opportunities to the world's huge industrial capacities and supply chains.

This is not the first time that China has held a new international exhibition that contributes to global economic growth, said Diaa Helmy, secretary-general of the Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Egypt has a great location and great cooperation with China built on the basis of confidence and friendship, he said, noting that it is the time for Egypt to seize the opportunity and support constructive and positive cooperation with China at all levels, particularly in logistics.

China's efforts like hosting the expo are not only conducive to regional trade, but also will help with the world's economic recovery, said Fathulbari Makhdoom, a columnist and analyst in Afghanistan's state-run Kabul Times newspaper.

Hainan to build 'everlasting' global boutique center
By Ma Zhiping and He Wei in Haikou
A trendy car is displayed at the Hainan International Consumer Products Expo. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]

Hainan plans to build a global center for boutique consumer goods, an "everlasting expo" to serve the needs for display and trade by global boutique producers in Haikou, capital city of Hainan province, said Feng Fei, governor of Hainan at the Global Consumption Innovation & Duty Free and Travel Retail Conference, a main theme meeting at the first China International Consumer Products Expo, on Friday.

Feng said that the Hainan Free Trade Port is a huge attraction for global goods to enter China. It not only gathers global boutique goods for domestic consumers, providing international products and services with more variety, better quality and lower prices but it will also play a greater role in attracting the return of overseas consumption by Chinese tourists and promoting domestic market circulation.

He said the new global consumer goods center will be located at the Jiangdong New District in eastern Haikou, a key industrial park of the Hainan FTP.

In a congratulatory letter to the expo's opening ceremony on Thursday, President Xi Jinping said that hosting the expo offers a global platform for boutique consumption.

He said China will leverage the advantages of the Hainan FTP, featuring comprehensive and deepened reform as well as high-level experimental opening-up policies, to deepen bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation and join hands with all parties to create a better future for mankind.

The four-day expo will run through Monday and it has attracted the attendance of more than 2,500 well-known brands from home and abroad.

A corner of the Hainan International Exhibition and Conference Center. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
A visitor looks at the exhibits at the Hainan International Consumer Products Expo. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
A family takes a picture with the mascots at the Hainan International Consumer Products Expo. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
Consumer goods drive discussions at expo
Justin Yifu Lin, a senior economist and honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University, delivers a speech at the Global Consumption Innovation & Duty Free and Travel Retail Conference during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on May 7, 2021. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
Long Guoqiang, vice-president of DRC, delivers a speech at the Global Consumption Innovation & Duty Free and Travel Retail Conference during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on May 7, 2021. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests talk at the panel discussion titled "New Platform of Hainan Expo, New Opportunities from Free Trade Port" during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on May 7, 2021. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
Guests talk at the panel discussion titled "New Consumption and New Business Forms" during first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on May 7, 2021. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
Top-tier livestreaming host Viya Huang and guests are seen at the panel discussion titled "New Consumption and New Business Forms" during the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on May 7, 2021. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
Foreign brands stand out at consumer goods expo
By Wang Junwei
People visit the Hainan exhibition area of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Foreign brands comprise the largest proportion of those at the consumer goods expo which opened Thursday in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, showing the potential of the Chinese market and the consumption upgrading trend, Workers' Daily reported on Thursday.

Covering 80,000 square meters, the China International Consumer Products Expo will be the largest consumer goods expo in the Asia-Pacific region, the organizers said. The international exhibition area of the expo covers 60,000 square meters and has attracted 648 overseas companies and 1,365 brands from 69 countries and regions.

"The Chinese market serves as the dual engine of development and innovation for Johnson & Johnson's global business," said Farrell Wang, managing director of consumer health at Johnson & Johnson China. "We are looking forward to making full use of our professional advantages as well as various supportive policies from Hainan province to better serve consumers via more innovative and high-quality healthy consumer products," said Wang.

Kentaro Fujiwara, Shiseido China CEO, said the company has fully felt the huge potential of the Chinese cosmetics market as Shiseido previously participated in the China International Import Expo held in Shanghai in 2019 and 2020.

China has maintained order thanks to the government's normalized epidemic prevention and control measures amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the stable social environment gives companies confidence in continuing to develop their businesses in China. With the help of open and high-quality government platforms such as the consumer products expo, the company hopes to keep up with the pace of China's economic development and continue to take root in the Chinese market.

Wang Yichuan, general manager of Swiss dietary supplements and functional foods maker Kingnature in China, said Chinese consumers have a deeper understanding of the concept of preventive health amid the global pandemic, and they are paying more attention to the raw materials, craftsmanship, quality and reputation of the products. During the expo, the company will release a variety of rehabilitation programs in professional fields.

As a public service platform, the consumer goods expo can not only stimulate consumption demand, and further improve consumption levels, but also promote mutual learning, exchanges and cooperation between domestic and foreign counterparts to achieve higher-quality development, according to Wang Bingnan, vice-minister of commerce.

Consumer goods expo opens in Hainan
Staff members carry out preparation work at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on May 6, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

The first China International Consumer Products Expo kicked off in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Thursday.

The expo, which will run until Monday, has attracted 2,628 brands from home and abroad, including 1,365 international brands from 69 countries and regions.

With a total exhibition area of 80,000 square meters, the expo is expected to become the largest boutique exhibition in the Asia-Pacific. It is expected that the event will attract more than 20,000 professional buyers from outside Hainan, and over 200,000 visitors.

People visit the Hainan exhibition area of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
People look at artworks at the Hainan exhibition area of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
People visit the Tibet autonomous region exhibition area of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
A woman looks at a display at the Tibet autonomous region exhibition area of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
A woman stands at the fashionable life exhibition area of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
A woman makes a phone call at the diamond and jewelry exhibition area of the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
A man looks at watches displayed at the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]
A smart temperature-checking robot stands guard with security staff members at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 6, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
A drone performance for the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 6, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
A drone performance for the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 6, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
A drone performance for the first China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 6, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
An aerial photo shows the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on April 27, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
An aerial photo shows the Wormhole Library in the Haikou Bay in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 3, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
An aerial photo shows the Wanlyuyuan Park in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 3, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
An aerial photo shows the Haikou bay seaside walking road in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 3, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
An aerial photo shows the seaside avenue at night in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 4, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
An aerial photo shows the Qilou ancient street in Haikou, South China's Hainan province on May 5, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
Watch it again: Keep up with lifestyle trends at consumer products expo

The first China International Consumer Products Expo is a trendsetter, in many ways.

The expo, slated from May 7-10 in Haikou, capital city of South China's Hainan province, has attracted 1,365 international brands, covering fashion, jewelry, lifestyle and outdoors, and food, as well as hospitality and professional services.

Some 1,263 domestic companies including Huawei, Gree and iFlytek are also taking part in the event.

If you're looking for the next trendy item in tech, lifestyle or fashion, take this virtual tour together with China Daily reporter He Wei.

She will try out some of the most anticipated launches and share her experience.

Watch the event live at 3:00 pm on Saturday.

Reporters: Ma Zhiping, He Wei and Pan Yiqiao

Editors: Zhao Siyuan and Yin Weihao

 

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