CIIE builds platform for global trade and development

China SDIC International Trade, a subsidiary of State Development and Investment Group, has long been acting as a platform for SDIC Group to explore business opportunities in trade and new materials development. SDIC Trade also plays an important role in supporting trade in countries and regions taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative.

SDIC Trade has participated in the China International Import Expo since the first edition in 2018.

As a member of the State-owned enterprise trade mission, SDIC Trade has become the main purchasing force at the CIIE. It signed tentative procurement deals worth $3.47 billion with 51 foreign investors during the past four CIIE editions. Of this total, a cumulative signing amount of $1.91 billion comes from countries and regions involved in the BRI, accounting for 55 percent of the total.

In 2021, I was appointed as the chairman of SDIC Trade and for the first time participated in the world's first national-level import-themed exhibition. During the exhibition, SDIC Trade signed about $1 billion of procurement intention agreements with 19 foreign enterprises, covering 16 kinds of commodities related to the national economy and people's livelihood, such as barley, cotton, manganese ore, edible oil and meat. The amount has reached a record high since our company participated in the expo.

When interviewed, one of our partners said that "China has become the largest export market for Cambodia's bananas, and the orders from SDIC Trade have brought more benefits for Cambodia's farmers". I felt a great sense of pride when I heard about this and know it is SDIC Trade's responsibility to promote trade and procurement.

The CIIE has strengthened our cooperation with old partners and also brought us new ones. The expo helps connect domestic and foreign markets and promote global development.

Over the past four years, we have more new partners, we have more long-term partners and our willingness to purchase more from around the globe is growing. I think this is not only due to our own efforts, but also due to the support of our partners, and further credit must be given to the service guarantee and spillover effect of the expo.

At the 2021 edition, I was deeply touched by the commitment of the CIIE organizers in regard to pandemic prevention and control. The expo achieved outstanding performance in providing high-quality trade services and high-level healthcare guarantees for global traders to meet in China.

During the 2021 edition, I had an exchange with Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's ambassador to China. He is full of confidence in China's economic development.

Over the past five years, the China International Import Expo has played a pivotal role in international procurement, resulting in a cumulative intended turnover of more than $270 billion. The six exhibition areas of food and agricultural products, intelligent industry and information technology, medical equipment and healthcare products, consumer goods, trade in services, and automobiles allow exhibitors and buyers from different industries around the world to display and purchase the latest products and services and share the dividends of China's reform and opening-up.

The author is the secretary of the Party committee and chairman of the board of directors of China SDIC International Trade.