Summary
The ninth China International Import Expo will run in Shanghai from 5 to 10 November, alongside the Hongqiao Forum. At a State Council Information Office briefing on 16 October, Vice-Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said preparations are essentially complete. A total of 162 countries, regions and international organisations will take part, with 4,142 overseas companies exhibiting.
The overall exhibition area exceeds 440,000 square metres for the first time, and the corporate exhibition area tops 370,000 square metres for the first time. The country exhibition will feature 69 countries and international organisations, with Canada and Sri Lanka as guest countries of honour, and Moldova, Romania and three other countries plus the United Nations Development Programme exhibiting for the first time. Within the corporate exhibition, US companies have booked more than 50,000 square metres, ranking first for the eighth consecutive edition and up 1,500 square metres on last year.
Canadian and New Zealand companies have their largest exhibition areas ever, while Australian companies have expanded their space by 25 percent from last year. For the first time, more than 300 Fortune Global 500 and industry-leading companies will exhibit. Nearly 200 companies and institutions have attended all nine editions, and more than 2,000 first-time exhibitors will take part.
More than 480 representative products will make their global, Asian or China debuts. Under the theme 'Stable Cooperation for an Open World Economy', the Hongqiao Forum will hold a main forum and 23 sub-forums, continue to release the World Openness Report and Openness Index, and add the inaugural Export to China Capability Development Report. This edition introduces dedicated 'benefit packages' for guest countries of honour and the annual 'Export to China' theme country for the first time, and launches a Global National Brands Exhibition Zone for the first time.
More than 40 trading delegations and over 600 sub-delegations will attend to observe and procure.
Commentary
The ninth CIIE sets another record for scale, and New Zealand companies have their largest exhibition area ever, giving small and medium-sized NZ firms a platform for direct contact with the Chinese market. China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, with two-way trade exceeding NZ$40 billion in 2025, dominated by primary products such as dairy, meat and timber. The CIIE is not only a showcase but also a testing ground for market response.
For NZ brands yet to enter China, the expo offers a chance to observe competitive dynamics in similar product categories, learn about Chinese consumer preferences and connect with potential distributors. At the same time, Australian companies have expanded their exhibition area by 25 percent, reflecting intensifying competition between Australia and New Zealand for share of the Chinese market. NZ firms need to highlight their differentiation in food safety and sustainable production.
In addition, the CIIE will release the Export to China Capability Development Report for the first time and introduce dedicated benefit packages for guest countries of honour and the annual 'Export to China' theme country, lowering the threshold for SMEs to enter the Chinese market. NZ SMEs should pay attention to industry matchmaking events held during the expo, use official market access information and business support services, and turn participation into actual orders.
Keywords: ninth CIIE, Ministry of Commerce, Hongqiao Forum, exhibition area, guest country of honour, Fortune Global 500, Export to China Capability Development Report, Yan Dong, Shanghai
Source: tjtfea.com
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