President Xi to speak at expo opening ceremony

President Xi Jinping is to attend the upcoming China International Import Expo in Shanghai for the second consecutive year, demonstrating the “great importance” attached to the event by the Chinese government.

“The attendance of Xi also shows the country’s long-term standing of supporting free trade, open world and the construction of a shared future for all people,” said Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan at a press conference on Tuesday.

Xi will deliver a keynote speech at the expo's opening ceremony on November 5, address the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, and tour the national pavilions with other country leaders.

During the expo, Xi will meet with country leaders and government heads while host a welcoming banquet with his wife Peng Liyuan for guests from more than 170 countries and regions involved in politics, business and academia as well as international organizations.

“The China International Import Expo is an important initiative for China to accelerate a new-round of high-quality opening-up to the outside world,” Wang said. “We have completed most of the preparation works for the expo, which includes national pavilions, enterprise pavilions and the second Hongqiao International Economic Forum.”

The 30,000-square-meter national pavilions will feature 64 countries, including China, Russia, France, Greece, India, Italy and Thailand, showcasing their industries, business environment and development achievements.

The 330,000-square-meter enterprise pavilions will have a wide range of displays covering equipment, consumption, food, health and services. More than 3,000 companies from 150 countries have registered to participate.

Meanwhile, more than 500,000 professional buyers and visitors will take part in the expo.

The Hongqiao International Economic Forum will bring together top names from international organizations in business and academia to discuss opening-up and innovation for win-win cooperation. The topics for five sub-forums will follow new trends and challenges in global economic development and highlight the development of openness and the role of innovation.