The fourth China International Consumer Products Expo Fashion Week closed on Thursday morning with the "Encounter Changjiang" runway show. As the highlight of this year's Fashion Week, the event showcased the rich Li ethnic customs and the exquisite craftsmanship of Li brocade and Li pottery.

The fusion of traditional techniques and contemporary fashion vibes created a display that celebrated the heritage and artistry of Li ethnic culture. "The fashion show aims to showcase the captivating fusion of Li brocade, Li pottery and other intangible cultural heritage of Changjiang Li autonomous county with modern fashion design, thereby presenting the beauty of Changjiang, Hainan province, and China to a global audience," remarked Wang Changjiang, deputy head of the county.

At the show, Hainan Lizhiyun Cultural Communication Co unveiled a series of outfits blending Li ethnic characteristics with modern fashion trends. The outfits incorporated the traditional weaving skills and patterns of Li brocade into popular elements to resonate with young people. One outfit amalgamized Li brocade romance with the seaside mushroom house, an internet-famous check-in destination in Shayutang Village of Changjiang Li autonomous county.

Tang Lijin, a designer with the corporation, emphasized the importance of the expo and fashion as a global exchange platform. "It's a great opportunity to showcase China's high-level ethnic clothing at such a prestigious event to enhance the world's understanding of Chinese culture," she said.

"We are committed to developing an array of innovative products that extend beyond clothing, encompassing soft furnishings for the home and other lifestyle items. Our aim is to seamlessly integrate the essence of Li brocade and other intangible cultural heritage into diverse aspects of everyday life, creating a harmonious fusion of tradition and modernity in various settings," she added.

Catherine Cooke, Foreign Principal and International High School Division Principal at Hainan Yingya St Peter's School in Haikou, expressed her delight in getting to know the Changjiang region at the China International Consumer Products Expo. "We very much look forward to deepening the school's connection with Changjiang and playing a part in the future growth of the county's children and teachers. We also hope to integrate the rich Li ethnic culture into our school's education and spark a strong and meaningful rapport with the students through this unique cultural heritage," she said.

The Li brocade, with its history spanning over 3,000 years, embodies China's earliest textile traditions. It is revered as a "living fossil" in the annals of Chinese textile history. In 2009, UNESCO included the Li brocade on its intangible cultural heritage list, declaring it to be in need of urgent safeguarding. Black, red, yellow and blue are the traditionally dominant colors of Li brocade, which were extracted from plants in ancient times.

HAIKOU -- The fourth China International Consumer Products Expo, which was held from April 13 to 18, broke records for scale, as well as for numbers of new products, visitors and exhibited brands.

A total of 4,019 brands from 71 countries and regions were presented at this year's six-day expo in Haikou, the capital of South China's Hainan province, with those figures respectively increasing 19 percent and 9 percent from last year, according to organizers.

A whopping 1,462 new products were released during the expo, up 45 percent year-on-year, and the number of visitors to the main venue increased 16 percent to 373,000.

The annual expo is China's only national-level consumer products exhibition, and it is the largest consumer expo in the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Non-medicinal sleep solutions provider Air Nutri Solution Inc, which is based in Vancouver, Canada, raked in a revenue of more than 3 million yuan ($422,416) at the expo and has already decided to attend the fifth expo next year, said Li Jingming, assistant to the company's chairman.

Including Air Nutri, a total of 36 companies on Thursday signed contracts to attend the fifth expo next year.

Global businesses in attendance this year displayed novel and upmarket products, seeking business cooperation deals and hoping to woo Chinese consumers.

As the world's second-largest economy, and with a population of 1.4 billion, China has a huge, ever-expanding consumer market.

The country's retail sales of consumer goods climbed 4.7 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024. Final consumption contributed 73.7 percent to GDP growth in the first quarter, according to the latest data, a clear sign of the Chinese people's growing readiness to spend.

A government work report in March said that the country will expand domestic demand and promote sound economic flows this year, while promoting steady growth in consumer spending.

CP Group has attended all four expos. The Thai corporation this year brought with it more products than it did in 2023, including snacks, poultry, coffee, tea and wine.

"We hope that when people mention Thailand, they will not only think of all kinds of daily necessities, but also more Thai food," said Bu Mengxuan, who works for the group.

Alongside their expanding spending power, Chinese consumers are now more interested in high-quality products, Bu said, and the group's products meet the demand of the Chinese consumer market, which also brings benefits to the entire industrial chain.

China has been Thailand's largest trading partner for many years. Statistics show that in 2023, the total trade volume between China and Thailand was $126.3 billion, and the direct investment of Chinese enterprises in Thailand totaled $4.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 109 percent.

As the guest of honor at this year's expo, Ireland made use of its 500-square-meter national pavilion to showcase whiskey distilleries, a barn market, a golf experience zone, a fashion and culture gallery, and other attractions.

In the Irish pavilion, David Wang, managing director of Haisi Food Co Ltd, signed contracts totaling 358 million yuan with business partners from China's Liaoning and Guangdong provinces.

The Haikou-based joint venture has a total investment of 500 million yuan and was established last year to engage in husbandry byproduct processing. It is expected to begin operations within the year, providing some 5,000 jobs once fully operational.

"We have made deals with our parent company in Ireland to import materials there and process them into pre-prepared foods such as beef tripe and chicken feet," he said, adding that the company has already received orders for its first batch of products.

Derek Lambe, economic counsellor at the Embassy of Ireland to China, said the expo is a valuable platform to facilitate people-to-people contact, through which partnerships and links are established, and this can help improve trade and investment.

Global trade and investment are win-win for everybody concerned, he said.

As previous consumer expos, "She-economy" has always been one of the hottest topics and a driving force to unleash consumption potential.

The "She economy" elements include a dazzling array of jewelry, different kinds of beauty care products and fashion week shows at this year's China International Consumer Products Expo or CICPE, in South China's Hainan province. Let's take a look together.

HAIKOU - At the ongoing fourth China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan province, cutting-edge technology products such as sleep aid devices, massage chairs with customized solutions and AI-assisted home sensors have attracted numerous visitors interested in experiencing and learning more about smart home innovations.

Themed "Share Open Opportunities, Co-create a Better Life," the expo has a special exhibition hall for digital consumption and professional services, which covers a number of sectors including smart homes, with many of the displayed products being unveiled for the first time.

Despite the hustle and bustle in the exhibition hall, visitor Duan Huimin found comfort as he reclined on a sofa, quickly drifting into sleep next to a device inside a small cabin. "I felt very sleepy after going in, and I slept very well," Duan said after a nap.

Li Jingming, assistant to chairman of the Air Nutri Solution Inc based in Vancouver, Canada, explained that the device called Quietaid Machine applies the technology of charge particle wave to help teenagers relieve study-related stress and aid their sleep.

China's government work report said the country will develop new types of consumption, launch policies to promote digital, environmentally-friendly and health-related consumption, and foster new areas of consumption growth such as smart homes.

At the entrance of the exhibition hall, many visitors were queuing to experience a massage chair. Once seated, the chair's integrated technology swiftly displayed heart rate, breathing frequency and stress parameter on a tablet computer in less than a minute.

"Based on the AI-monitored results, our massage chair will recommend a massage mode that suits you," Zhou Manni, assistant brand manager of OSIM China, said.

At the booth of China's tech giant Huawei, an AI-assisted sensor is on display that is capable of monitoring the status of elderly individuals at home.

"If the elderly stumbles or falls off the bed, the device will promptly send an alarm call to a designated phone number of a family member," said Shao Yang, president of Smart Space Product Line, Huawei Consumer Business Group.

At the expo, relevant government departments of Hainan and several companies and institutes signed strategic cooperation agreements in whole-house intelligence.

Meanwhile, in response to a year-long program aimed at stimulating consumption initiated by the Ministry of Commerce, Hainan started a campaign on trade-ins of home appliances across the island, with the launch ceremony held at the expo.

According to Gu Gang, vice-governor of the province, in the era of leapfrog AI development, embracing intelligence is imperative.

"We aim to generate more market development opportunities for entrepreneurs and hope to take the lead in creating a series of exemplary intelligent houses in residential buildings during the building of the free trade port," Gu said.

China-chic products with traditional cultural characteristics shine at the ongoing China International Consumer Products Expo 2024 in South China's Hainan province, CNR News reported on Tuesday.

From traditional craftsmanship to products of time-honored brands, all are being showcased at the Domestic Brands Zone of Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Visitors can enjoy the charm of traditional culture and feel the innovation of modern science and technology of Chinese people at the same time.

Moreover, many products not only hold high standards in quality, but also reflect a strong sense of trend in design.

Through the integration of traditional Chinese cultural elements, the products are very much in line with the diversified consumer needs of young people and also reflect Chinese people's cultural confidence.

The expo is a platform for consumers and it is hoped that through this opportunity, people from home and abroad can see, know and like Li brocade and feel the unique charm and fashion of Hainan intangible cultural heritage, said Tang Qiuchen, chairman of a company engaged in Li brocade culture in Hainan.

Tang said she would like to communicate more with other intangible cultural heritage inheritors for new ideas on the industrialization of intangible cultural heritage handicraft, explore a new development path for Li brocade and expand the popularity of Hainan Li brocade's IP.

Different from Tang Qiuchen, who attended the event for four consecutive times, Zhang Wei participated in the expo for the first time this year.

Zhang, the fourth-generation inheritor of grape vine weaving technique, said that attending the CICPE is not just for sales and promotion but also for communication and cooperation.

Zhang said the rattan bags, which are mainly exported to overseas market, such as Japan and European countries, have attracted many business people during the first three days of the event.

Moreover, other local products with traditional characteristics are also on display, including delicate zisha (or purple clay) teapots in Guangdong pavilion, and mamianqun or horse-faced skirts — a type of hanfu, the traditional attire of China in Shandong pavilion.

Hainan Free Trade Port provides a broad platform for showcasing and trading global consumer goods, and it has continued to consolidate its position as an international tourism and consumption center, a senior official said.

Hainan is at the forefront of China's opening-up, and is becoming a center of trade as well as a hot investment destination, said Feng Fei, secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, at the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of Hainan province.

The expo, which saw participation of more than 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions, opened on Saturday, and will run through Thursday.

Since Feb 9, citizens from 59 countries have been allowed to enter Hainan visa-free for up to 30 days for various purposes, and the favorable policy has attracted more global companies to attend the consumer expo this year. A large number of foreign exhibitors and buyers have felt the convenience of visa-free entry firsthand.

To further facilitate payment services for foreign visitors coming to China, Bank of China has set up an account-opening process nationwide for such visitors on short-term visas, and they can apply for a domestic debit card at any branch of the bank with valid identification documents.

Besides, over 300 ATMs of Bank of China in Hainan help foreigners withdraw RMB notes using international cards.

The ATMs in some key areas in Hainan provide multilingual services in languages such as Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean, as well as small denomination 10 yuan ($1.4) and 50 yuan banknotes for deposits and withdrawals.

Before Sept 30, Hainan aims to build Haikou and Sanya into demonstration cities with convenient payment services, and significantly improve the payment experience in its other cities and counties, the local government said during the consumer expo.

In the long run, Hainan plans to comprehensively build high-quality and efficient payment service systems in areas such as cash payment, overseas bank card acceptance and mobile payment, the local government said.

Meanwhile, the offshore duty-free shopping market in Hainan has been thriving. In 2023, sales of offshore duty-free products exceeded 43.7 billion yuan, up 25.4 percent year-on-year, according to data from Haikou Customs.

Coach, a brand of US-based luxury goods group Tapestry Inc, is participating in the consumer expo for a fourth consecutive year. The company said it is full of expectations about the expo, which has helped it gain strong momentum and share diverse opportunities.

"Hainan continues to take the high road, and we look forward to more in-depth communication and cooperation with our partners," said Yann Bozec, president of Tapestry Asia-Pacific and president and CEO of Coach Asia Pacific.

OSIM International Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based health products provider, has also been participating in the consumer expo for four straight years. The company said it was satisfied with the expo's positive effect, and would like to expand its footprint in Hainan with more new stores.

"The number of on-site orders made at the expo has exceeded our expectations, and experiencing the products on-site has been quite popular among visitors. This will help us to better understand the demand of Chinese consumers and develop more new products," said Yoyo Wen, assistant general manager of Shenzhen region of OSIM China.

Denis MK Cheng, consumer sector leader of Ernst & Young China, said the expansion of the offshore duty-free shopping market in Hainan and the optimization of related policies will enable consumers to purchase a wider range of international products, and enjoy more favorable prices and a better shopping experience.

"Besides, the Hainan Free Trade Port will promote the integration of technological innovation and the consumption market, and enhance consumer experience through technology. It will also inspire companies to be more innovative with new consumption models and experiences such as smart retail and remote healthcare," Cheng said at the expo.

With the greater presence of high-tech enterprises, China's largest trade expo will enable participants this year to tap into new business opportunities in emerging sectors and inject much-needed energy into sluggish global trade, said experts and executives.

The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off its 135th edition on Monday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and is scheduled to run through May 5.

The country's major trade event continues to embrace digital technology and intelligent manufacturing, with nearly 3,600 participating companies in this field showcasing more than 90,000 intelligent products, such as artificial intelligence-powered translator devices and automated guided vehicles.

The increasing focus on high-tech products and technological advancements at the trade fair serves as evidence of China's transformation from a labor-intensive manufacturing powerhouse to a major technology-driven industry player, said Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Amid a challenging external environment, products with high-tech content are gaining a competitive edge and have emerged as the key to breaking through the current global slump in foreign trade, Bai added.

With exhibition venues covering 1.55 million square meters, this year's event features around 28,600 companies participating in the export section, including more than 4,300 first-timers. In addition, 680 companies will participate in the import section.

Bekar Mikaberidze, founder of the Belt and Road Georgian Business House, said the fair has become synonymous with discovering fresh prospects and exploring untapped markets. He has participated in the event for more than a decade.

With each visit to the fair, attendees are able to witness the emergence of new trends and technologies driving industry development, and identify potential investment or collaboration prospects, Mikaberidze said.

The trade fair will showcase a wide range of new products, with the number expected to top 1 million. Among these will be more than 450,000 environmentally friendly products and more than 250,000 offerings involving indigenous intellectual property rights.

With an array of improved products, Bella Intelligent Information Technology Co, a Guangzhou-based massage-products manufacturer, is focused on making the most of the Canton Fair, at which 140,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions had signed up as of Saturday for broader business partnerships.

The fair has proved to be an invaluable platform for launching new ventures, expanding market reach and staying ahead of the competition, said Zeng Zhitao, the company's chairman.

The fair comes as international trade is grappling with a period of sluggishness and uncertainty. Global trade, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, saw a 3 percent contraction, roughly equaling $1 trillion, in 2023.

Although the World Trade Organization said earlier this month that it expected global trade volume to increase 2.6 percent in 2024, it warned that geopolitical tensions continue to pose a significant risk to its outlook, as signs of trade fragmentation rise.

Christophe Benard, general manager of Schneider Consumer Asia, said that China's commitment to openness, innovation and development will continue to drive opportunities and prosperity despite global economic uncertainties.

Data released by the General Administration of Customs showed that the country's foreign trade in goods climbed 5 percent year-on-year to 10.17 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion) in the first quarter.

The ongoing 4th China International Consumer Products Expo has attracted numerous foreign companies, who are showcasing their new products.

These companies are aligning with Chinese market trends and targeting niche areas to seize China's development opportunities, CCTV-13 reported on Sunday.

Ireland is the guest of honor at this year's expo, with a dedicated exhibition venue showing the country's scientific and technological innovation, education, investment, tourism and culture industries.

Irish Casing Company set its meat processing venture in Haikou Comprehensive Bonded Zone three months ago to become the first Irish enterprise to invest in Hainan province.

Paul Daly, CEO of Irish Casing Company, said that he has visited China many times over the past few years and has witnessed significant changes, noticing that Chinese people are increasingly seeking healthier and more convenient food options, and he hopes to seize this market opportunity.

Switzerland, as the guest of honor for the first CICPE in 2021, have changed their exhibits from traditional consumer goods such as watches and food to more technologically-advanced products this year, following favorable policy in China.

China is enacting policies to pursue high-quality development, the new quality productive forces have been placed in an important position, that gives us a direction to future invest in China, said Joel Saurina, head of Swiss Business Hub China.

The continuous upgrading of the exhibits are backed by the higher pursuit for a quality life from Chinese consumers, and innovative products from around the world is firm proof of the confidence in the Chinese consumer market from foreign investors.

Themed "Share open opportunities, Co-create a better life", the 4th CICPE kicked off in Haikou, Hainan province on Saturday. The six-day expo hosts over 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions, showcasing their latest products for global consumers.

The launch ceremony of the Global Consumption Event Series jointly organized by the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development and China Duty Free Group took place in Haikou, Hainan province, on Saturday, marking the kickoff of the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo under the theme of "Share open opportunities, Co-create a better life".

Chen Yin, chairman of China Tourism Group, said the global tourism market is showing clear signs of recovery, and the development prospects for the tourism retail industry are bright.

In terms of the Chinese market, Chen said the recovery of tourism consumption is also accelerating, and tourism retail holds long-term growth potential. The duty-free market in Hainan is vibrant, and Hainan's role as an international tourism and consumption center continues to be consolidated.

He emphasized that China Tourism Group and its subsidiary, China Duty Free Group are taking the lead in demonstrating honest operations and quality service in accordance with the principle of "doing business in good faith and providing quality services" in Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex.

They are also promoting the comprehensive development of the duty-free industry chain in Hainan, and providing strong support for the construction of the Hainan international tourism and consumption center and free trade port. In the future, with the joint efforts of an effective market and proactive government, the demand for tourism will be further released as tourism is an essential need for people to pursue a better life. The role of consumption in driving economic growth will become more prominent, Chen said.

This expo has brought together global consumer products, introduced more high-quality domestic and international goods and services that meet the needs of people for a better life and lead the trend of consumption upgrading. It is providing a global platform for showcasing and trading premium consumer products, Chen said. China Tourism Group and China Duty Free Group are participating in the event and demonstrating their position and innovative strength in the global tourism retail market.

The China Duty Free Group's booth is located at Booth 02 in Hall 5 of the main exhibition hall, covering an area of 600 square meters. With a simple and stylish design featuring a 360-degree dome structure and professional high-definition equipment, the hall is creating an immersive exhibition experience. The booth showcases a wide range of international consumer products including beauty and cosmetics, imported and domestic wines and spirits, food and groceries, electronic products, luxury accessories as well as watches and jewelry, presenting new trends in consumption.

This expo has three sub-venues. As part of the duty-free shopping sub-venue, Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex has set up a new consumption scenario exhibition area that is open to all. In addition, China Duty Free Group launched a series of themed marketing activities, with its various stores in Hainan introducing diverse activities. Such efforts are helpful to stimulate consumption potential and provide consumers with a richer and higher-quality shopping experience.

In the future, with the support of its parent company — China Tourism Group, China Duty Free Group will take advantage of the series' events and the year of consumption promotion and use the entire tourism industry chain to implement the development strategy of deep cultivation in Hainan. Such efforts will better serve the new development layout and promote global consumption innovation.

High-quality products with new and unique characteristics showcased at the 4th China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, Hainan province, reflecting China's new trend of consumption upgrading, China Securities Journal reported on Monday.

EHang took its flagship product, the EH216-S passenger-carrying pilotless eVTOL aircraft, to this year's CICPE. This product just obtained the world's first three airworthiness certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (type certificate, production certificate, standard airworthiness certificate), said He Tianxing, vice-president of EHang.

The consumers who take Ehang pilotless aircraft in the future do not need to master any driving technology, nor do they need to have any pilot's license. They just need to book an air taxi, press a key to send command and then 'fly freely', he added.

In addition, many other intelligent products showcased at the CICPE 2024, covering areas of smart home, medical health and technology.

Huawei has also showcased a mobile, full-house smart "Home of the Future" in the open air, providing an opportunity to feel the magic and surprise brought by the "Internet of Everything" in the future space in advance.

This year's CICPE attracted a record high of over 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions, with Russia, Mongolia and Malaysia participating in groups for first time.

The current trend of consumption upgrading in China is obvious, said Huang Hanquan, head of the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, which is affiliated to the National Development and Reform Commission.

The record high number of participating countries and regions as well as the exhibiting brands reflect the strong momentum released by the sustained recovery of China's consumer market, and the world's confidence in China's economic development prospects.

Through continuous innovation in the exhibition mode, the expo will gradually enhance its international influence and help build China into a global boutique consumption destination, Huang said.

China's imports of high-quality consumer goods continue to expand, providing a broader market space for global consumer goods enterprises, and more global leading brands and their latest products consider the expo the first and a must choice for exhibition, said Huang.

Visitors at the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo can experience cutting-edge technology with a variety of interactive experiences.

Featuring more than 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions, the six-day expo in Haikou, Hainan province, showcases new and special consumer products, offering high-quality goods and services from domestic and international markets.

China's consumption market still holds enormous potential, and digital, green and healthy consumption are expected to become important drivers to promote the expansion of the market and boost economic growth.

Industry experts and top executives made the remarks during the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo, which opened on Saturday in Haikou, Hainan province. The expo runs through Thursday.

Fueled by the massive consumption growth potential of the country, major foreign companies said they would continue to increase investments in the Hainan Free Trade Port, and inject new vitality into the China market.

Attending the expo for the fourth consecutive year, French spirits and wine maker Pernod Ricard said it would continue to deepen the market layout in Hainan and promote sustainable development in the province.

The group, which achieved 6 percent year-on-year growth in China in 2023, said it will focus on premium and diversified products in the years ahead.

"Pernod Ricard has witnessed Hainan's rapid development and vitality. We are looking forward to introducing more high-quality products and exquisite experiences to the Chinese market," said Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, chief executive officer of Pernod Ricard China.

"China is Pernod Ricard's second-largest market, where we have had a presence for over 30 years. We will respond promptly to an ever-evolving market demand in the country," he said.

The consumer expo is China's first significant international expo this year and the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of scale. More than 4,000 brands, a record high, from 71 countries and regions are attending this year's event.

Speaking at the expo, Sheng Qiuping, vice-minister of commerce, said that China has a population of 1.4 billion and a middle-income group of over 400 million, and the per capita annual GDP has exceeded $12,000, making it a consumer market with the highest growth potential globally.

He said the Chinese economy boasts strong resilience, great potential and abundant vitality, and the long-term growth fundamentals remain unchanged.

In January and February, total retail sales of consumer goods in the country reached 8.1 trillion yuan ($1.12 trillion), up 5.5 percent year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

"The figures indicate the strong resilience of China's consumption market, and lays a foundation for stable and progressive consumption growth this year," Sheng said.

Denis MK Cheng, consumer sector leader of Ernst& Young China, said the Ministry of Commerce has designated 2024 as the year of consumption promotion, and this year will be important to stimulate consumption potential, expand consumption scale and improve consumption quality.

"The government's favorable measures to help consumer product enterprises and the consumer goods market to continuously develop in various dimensions are an important part of promoting domestic demand through consumption," Cheng said.

Meanwhile, United States-based skin care group Estee Lauder said that Hainan stands as one of the most popular travel destinations, and it has provided exciting business growth opportunities for global retail brands.

Israel Assa, global president of travel retail at Estee Lauder Companies, said that in 2023, Estee Lauder built its travel retail headquarters for China in Haikou to support its travel retail business in the country and the Asia-Pacific region. The company's research and development center in Shanghai plans to develop more beauty products catering to Chinese consumers.

China will firmly promote high-level opening-up to the outside world and welcome global enterprises to invest in the country and share business growth opportunities together, said a senior official at the opening ceremony of the Fourth China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, capital of the southern island province of Hainan on Saturday.

The event, China's first significant international expo this year and the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific in terms of scale, will be held from April 13 to 18. Over 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions will participate in the expo this year, a record high.

Peng Qinghua, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said China would continue to stimulate new vitality in consumption. It is hoped that different parties will organize diverse promotional activities to help drive consumption upgrades and boost economic growth, Peng said.

China stands as the consumer market with the biggest growth potential in the world, and it boasts strong resilience and unchanged long-term growth fundamentals, Sheng Qiuping, vice-minister of commerce, said during the opening ceremony.

In January and February, total retail sales of consumer goods in the country reached 8.1 trillion yuan ($1.12 trillion), up 5.5 percent year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

"The figures fully indicated the strong resilience of China's consumption market, and laid a foundation for stable and progressive consumption growth of the year," Sheng said.

Fueled by the huge consumption market of China, major foreign companies said they would continue to increase investments in the country.

US skincare group Estee Lauder said Hainan stands as one of the most popular travel destinations, and it has provided exciting business growth opportunities for global retail brands, said Israel Assa, global president of travel retail of Estee Lauder Companies.

Estee Lauder built its travel retail headquarters of China in Haikou last year to support its travel retail business in China and the Asia-Pacific region. The company's research and development center in Shanghai plans to develop more beauty products that cater to Chinese consumers.

The fourth China International Consumer Products Expo will open on Saturday in Haikou, South China's Hainan province.

The six-day event will host over 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions, which are expected to showcase their fresh and upmarket products for global consumers.

The area of the expo's main venue will reach 100,000 square meters. The exhibition area of sub-venues, including themed exhibitions on new consumption scenarios and health consumption, covers 28,000 square meters.

Ireland will be the guest of honor at this year's expo, with a dedicated exhibition venue showing the country's latest achievements in scientific and technological innovation, education, investment, tourism and culture.

The new product launch event of the upcoming China International Consumer Products Expo will be held from Saturday to Monday at Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou, Hainan province, bringing nearly 100 top-notch items from 28 well-known international and domestic exhibitors and providing a platform for global brands to explore new consumer opportunities.

During the event, renowned enterprises, including Huawei, OSIM, Pop Mart, Kimberlite Diamond, Kirin Beer, Royal Philips, Karcher and Bloomage Biotech, will showcase their latest products covering multiple fields such as perfumes, high-end alcoholic beverages, technology, jewelry, trendy toys, food, health and fashion apparel.

The guest country of honor of this year's CICPE, Ireland, will join hands with first-class local brands to debut items in such sectors as high-end spirits, meat products, dairy, animal healthcare and software services.

Dutch home appliance giant Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, will make its appearance at the consumer expo, presenting items such as its limited-edition product Dragon Year Series 9 shaver, Sonicare DiamondClean 3 electric toothbrush and the Philips Lumea Prestige IPL hair removal device. These products highlight oral health, men's grooming, women's beauty and other grooming scenarios, providing Chinese consumers with more novel, diverse and demand-oriented solutions.

Germany-based Karcher has been committed to improving the living environment of Chinese users by adopting European and American health standards and changing lives through technology. At this year's expo, the company will launch a full-scene lithium-ion platform and the world's first lithium-ion textile cleaning machine, the SE 3-18 Compact.

Macallan, a brand under Edrington Group based in the United Kingdom, will release the second volume of the legendary Macallan series on the occasion of its 200th anniversary at the expo. This series of products aim to tell the spiritual stories of the great pioneers in Macallan's history and their outstanding contributions to the brand's whisky-making heritage, paying tribute to the founder, Alexander Reid. The whisky uses spirit distilled in 1949 and has been carefully aged. The bottle, presented in a unique yearbook format and crafted by Lalique of France, is an exquisite crystal decanter.

As one of the world's leading whisky producers, Pernod Ricard will launch The Chuan, a pure malt whiskey, at the expo. As the first product created domestically by the internationally renowned spirits group, The Chuan showcases its exquisite craftsmanship and Chinese characteristics, striving to create an extraordinary vision for Chinese-origin malt whisky and rightfully claiming its place in the world of whisky as a product from China.

Meanwhile, William Grant & Sons will unveil a new brand and products at this expo, offering consumers a more diverse selection of quality spirits. Brands under the William Grant & Sons, such as Hendrick's Gin and Monkey Shoulder blended Scotch, will also make their appearances.

Bloomage Biotech, a globally renowned biotechnology and biomaterials company, will present its functional skin care brand Bio-MESO and new essence water at the expo. At the third CICPE, Bloomage Biotech released its MedRepair 3A purple essence, proposing an "active and passive dual-path anti-aging" solution for consumers and marking a breakthrough in the research on effective skin care products for sensitive skin.

Jingdezhen, a city famed for porcelain production in Jiangxi province, will organize seven porcelain enterprises to debut products at the expo. These products, crafted by the finest artisans using exquisite porcelain-making techniques, combine traditional Chinese cultures and embody the ingenuity and craftsmanship of imperial kilns.

In addition to new product releases, this year's CICPE will set up a display area to focus on the application scenarios of new products. Under the concept of "Infinite Possibilities", it will create five major areas titled "X land" under the themes of Oriental Charm Island, Soul Habitat Island, All-Around Island, Ever-Changing Island and Wonderland Island, showcasing new products through various application scenarios.

A major Chinese international show for consumer products, the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo is to open on Saturday in Haikou, capital city of South China's Hainan province.

The expo, also known as CICPE, which will last to Thursday, will be held across the province for the first time, with Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou serving as the main venue.

The event will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the provincial government of Hainan.

Sheng Qiuping, vice-minister of commerce, said at a recent news conference that this year's event will see an increased scale. The exhibition area will reach about 128,000 square meters, compared with 120,000 sq m at the previous session.

The expo will feature more than 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions, assisted by Hainan's visa-free entry policy.

The official said that the event will be China's first significant international expo this year, as the country continues to promote consumption growth.

He said the expo, following the theme of "exhibiting throughout the island", will be held at multiple venues in Haikou and Qionghai.

In addition to the main exhibition area at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, the provincial capital is to hold a duty-free shopping show and an international sailboat and yacht exhibition. Meanwhile, the Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in the city of Qionghai will host a health consumption show.

More than 250 yachts and sailboats will be exhibited in an area of about 180,000 sq m at the Haikou National Sailboat Base. International exhibitors will include such renowned manufacturers as Princess Yachts from the United Kingdom, Bali from France, Azimut from Italy, Supra from the United States and Sunreef from Poland, as well as component providers like Suzuki and Yamaha from Japan.

The duty-free shopping show at the Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex will showcase the business opportunities brought by Hainan's new efforts in opening-up, especially the campaigns in building Hainan Free Trade Port and promoting offshore duty-free shopping, Chen Huaiyu, vice-governor of the province, said at the same news conference.

Hainan began to develop itself into a free trade port in 2020, featuring trade assistance practices such as low tariffs, simplified customs procedures and offshore duty-free shopping throughout the island province.

Chen said Hainan has made great strides in advancing offshore duty-free shopping practice. Currently, there are some 150,000 types of duty-free products on sale in Hainan. In the past six years, total sales of duty-free products have exceeded 180 billion yuan ($24.88 billion).

"Next, we will attract a group of major international enterprises to settle in Hainan and build the province into a new highland of high-standard opening-up to the outside world," Chen said.

The main exhibition venue, which covers eight large exhibition halls at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, will continue to be a magnet to international suppliers and buyers. The event's organizers said this year's expo aims to showcase a diverse array of "new, novel and unique" consumer products, bringing together high-quality consumer goods from home and abroad.

Renowned enterprises, including Puig from Spain, Estee Lauder from the United States and CP Group from Thailand, as well as Moutai, Huawei and iFLYTEK from China, have confirmed their participation and are ready to unveil their latest offerings.

Twenty-eight domestically and internationally famed exhibitors will launch nearly 100 new consumer products during the expo, covering a range of industries.

Ireland will be the guest country of honor at this year's expo, with a dedicated exhibition hall serving as the national pavilion.

The Ireland country pavilion will be situated in Hall 4 of the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, covering an area of 500 sq m. It will gather representatives from 29 participating companies and organizations, presenting over 200 exhibits from more than 50 Irish brands, covering such areas as beverages, food, fashion, agricultural tech, life sciences, high-end consumer products, high-tech innovation, education, investment and tourism.

The UK, Mongolia and Malaysia will showcase their products in the form of national exhibition groups for the first time.

Countries and regions such as Japan, South Korea, Italy, Canada and Switzerland will also organize national and regional pavilions at the expo.

Meanwhile, 11 member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will participate in the expo this year to explore business growth opportunities in China.

The RCEP agreement, which took effect in January 2022, has helped to boost regional economic growth both in China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2023, the global trade value of goods between Hainan and RCEP members exceeded 80 billion yuan, up 37.9 percent from the 2021 levels.

Among domestic exhibition groups, the Hainan delegation will establish a provincial pavilion of about 800 sq m.

The event's organizers said all the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China are sending delegations to the expo. Guizhou, an inland province in Southwest China, for instance, is arranging 24 consumer product suppliers to the show, exhibiting products covering such areas as alcoholic beverages, tea, food and handicrafts with ethnic characteristics.

In addition to exhibitions, there will be a number of thematic events including the Global Consumer Innovation and Duty-Free and Tourism Retail Conference, and the China (Hainan) — Ireland Life Sciences Exchange and Matchmaking Conference.

There will also be activities ranging from business matching events to new product launches and policy briefings.

During the event, Hainan will host a variety of cultural, artistic and gourmet activities, allowing visitors to experience Chinese culture, the charm of Hainan Island and an international lifestyle as a result of Hainan's evolution into a free trade port.

The expo aims to promote global collaboration and innovation, cementing its role as a significant platform for consumer product exchange and development, the event's organizers said.

Since its inaugural session in 2021, the China International Consumer Products Expo, held in Haikou, the capital city of the southern island province of Hainan, has provided a new platform for global enterprises to showcase their quality products and share the development opportunities brought by the Chinese market.

The expo is China's first national-level exhibition with the theme of consumer goods and is the largest of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.

The event has garnered great attention from the international business community since the first session was held in May 2021.

The first expo featured a total exhibition area of 80,000 square meters, including 60,000 sq m for international exhibitors in a variety of sectors including cosmetics, automobiles, food, cruise ships and garments.

A total of 70 countries and regions attended the four-day expo, and 2,628 brands under 1,505 enterprises from home and abroad participated in the exhibition. The expo also attracted more than 240,000 visits, including 30,000 professionals representing buyers from across the world.

In addition, more than 130 events relating to the release of new products, matchmaking between suppliers and buyers, as well as industrial promotions, were held at the inaugural session.

A great number of high-quality overseas consumer products, like coffee from Panama, olive oil from Spain and whisky from Ireland, have used the expo as a platform to enter the vast Chinese market, according to the event's organizers.

It is worth mentioning that all the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China dispatched trade delegations to attend the expo.

Experts said the CICPE was targeted at boosting the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

China first proposed the establishment of a free trade zone in Hainan in 2018 and began construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port in 2020. Since then, Hainan has implemented a series of preferential policies such as visa-free entry, offshore duty-free shopping and a tax-exempt imports list, which has provided an express channel for overseas brands to enter the Chinese market.

The consumer products expo is an essential part of the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port and a step toward high-standard opening-up as the province strengthens duty-free consumption to drive economic development, according to local experts. They added that the expo has played a remarkable role in boosting duty-free consumption during the event and the period that followed.

Official data show that Hainan's offshore duty-free sales between May 6-9, 2021, increased 309 percent from the same period of 2020.

The event also attracted much attention from international media. The expo's organizers said that more than 160 media outlets from home and abroad, including Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, The Associated Press and Tass, dispatched nearly 1,000 reporters to cover the event. During the period from March 15 to May 15, more than 428,000 reports relating to the event were published by 300-plus media outlets.

Switzerland was the guest country of honor at the first expo. "The expo has brought new opportunities for global high-end brands to enter and expand in the Chinese market," said Bernardino Regazzoni, then Swiss ambassador to China. "The expo also marks another big step forward in the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the acceleration of China's integration into the global economic system," he added.

The second CICPE was held in Haikou from July 26-30, 2022. This session featured an exhibition area of 100,000 sq m. A total of 1,955 enterprises from 61 countries and regions, made of 1,107 from overseas and 848 from China, exhibited 2,843 brands at the expo. In addition, the 2022 expo received more than 280,000 visits including 40,000-plus representatives for buyers.

The expo released more than 600 new products. A yacht show featuring 200-plus yachts from 50 well-known brands was held alongside the expo, according to the organizer.

As the guest country of honor, France participated in the second expo with nearly 50 of its enterprises and 250 brands. French companies Galeries Lafayette and Danone, for instance, took part in the event.

Lawrance Shum, CEO of Galeries Lafayette China, said the expo is an excellent platform for purchasers to connect with global high-end brands and understand the Hainan market as well as the entire Chinese market.

Bruno Chevot, president of Danone Greater China, North Asia and Oceania, said the expo is a "bridge" and "window" for high-quality foreign goods to enter the Chinese market, which is conducive to promoting communication between domestic and foreign markets and boosting consumption upgrading.

The event again attracted great media attention. During the period between June 24 and Aug 5, 2022, a total of 324 media outlets from China and abroad covered the expo, with nearly 340,000 reports published.

The third CICPE was held in Haikou from April 10-15, 2023. The total exhibition area reached 120,000 sq m, an increase of 20 percent over the 2022 edition.

More than 3,300 brands from 65 countries and regions were displayed at the event, an increase of 19 percent from 2022. The event attracted more than 320,000 visits. The number of buyers' representatives attending the expo exceeded 50,000, growing 25 percent from the 2022 edition.

There were successful investment promotions at the expo. Businesses from the host city of Haikou, for instance, signed agreements on 24 cooperative projects with domestic and overseas partners. The combined pledged investment totaled 3 billion yuan ($414.6 million).

More than 200 media outlets from home and abroad sent reporters to cover the event. About 610,000 reports related to the expo were published during the period March 3 to April 15 that year.

Italy was the guest country of honor of the third CICPE. In a short video at the opening ceremony on April 10, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her gratitude to the Chinese leadership and the expo, stressing the bilateral consensus to enhance China-Italy trade ties and boost global economic recovery through joint efforts.

More than 3,000 brands from 59 countries and regions participate the expo.

The fourth China International Consumer Products Expo, themed on "Share open opportunities, Co-create a better life" is set to open on Saturday in Haikou, Hainan province.

The six-day expo will last until April 18, and expects to attract more than 3,000 brands from 59 countries and regions to join. The United Kingdom, Mongolia and Malaysia will showcase their products in the form of national exhibition groups for the first time.

The construction of the booths is underway at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Haikou, which is going to be the main venue of the expo.

There will be 318 brands from 11 RCEP member countries participating this year, with a total exhibition area of over 3,000 square meters.

The expo has become an essential platform and prowess evidence for RCEP member states to share China's opening-up opportunities and carry out international economic and trade cooperation, said Sheng Qiuping, vice-minister of commerce, at a news conference in Beijing, on March 27.