Shanghai prepares for 9th CIIE

The upcoming 9th China International Import Expo represents a major effort by the world's second-largest economy to proactively open its super-sized market to the world, officials and executives said ahead of the event, which is scheduled to take place Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai.

With its total exhibition area set to exceed 440,000 square meters for the first time, this year's expo will host 4,142 overseas exhibitors and draw participants from 162 countries, regions and international organizations, said Yan Dong, vice-minister of commerce, at a news conference on Friday.

"US companies will occupy more than 50,000 sq m at the business exhibition, up 1,500 sq m from last year, retaining the top spot by exhibition area for the eighth consecutive year," Yan said.

Having never missed an edition of the CIIE, US technology company 3M will showcase its latest innovations in automotive, electronics and safety, as well as manufacturing materials and automation.

"We have always viewed the CIIE as a key platform for showcasing cutting-edge innovations and expanding local partnerships," said Henry Ding, president of 3M China, adding that the company will further strengthen its supply chain network in China.

Such confidence is backed by the returns foreign-invested companies earn in China. Foreign-invested companies that filed annual reports for 2025 recorded an average profit margin of 8.7 percent, according to a report released by the Ministry of Commerce.

Foreign-invested manufacturers posted a margin 2.2 percentage points higher than that of industrial enterprises nationwide, the report said.

"China's super-sized market offers fertile ground for businesses to generate tangible returns," said He Yadong, a spokesman for the ministry, at a separate news conference on Thursday.

In addition to connecting global businesses with China's vast market, the expo is also cementing its role as a showcase for innovation. Yan, the commerce official, said the number of exhibits set to make their global, Asian or China debuts has so far exceeded 480, a record high for the event.

The lineup will include modular laparoscopic surgical robots, cochlear implants that detect sound from all directions and prototype 6G devices, said Xiao Lu, deputy Party secretary of the China International Import Expo Bureau.

"These cutting-edge innovations will support industrial development and improve people's lives," Xiao said, adding that other exhibits will include water-based silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives and water treatment systems that can soften and mineralize water simultaneously.

The expo comes as strong import growth lends support to Beijing's push for more balanced trade. China's imports rose 22.3 percent year-on-year to 16.74 trillion yuan ($2.5 trillion) in the first nine months, the fastest growth since 2021, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Shanghai, the expo's host city, saw imports reach a record 1.87 trillion yuan in the first eight months, accounting for 12.8 percent of the national total, said Lu Shan, the city's vice-mayor.

Yan said China will respond proactively to trading partners' needs and continue to improve measures to facilitate imports.

"We will work to enable the world to share in the opportunities of China's vast market," he added.