The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, opened in Shanghai on Wednesday, showcasing China's firm commitment to global cooperation, which injects much-needed certainty and stability into the global economy.

When delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged that the country will unswervingly promote high-standard opening up, steadily expand institutional opening up, and advance comprehensive pilot programs to accelerate the service industry's opening up.

The six-day event has set a new record in scale. It boasts participation from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with 4,108 overseas exhibitors and a total exhibition area of over 430,000 square meters, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

"This is a clear vote of confidence in the Chinese economy and a show of strong support for the CIIE from all parties involved," said Wu Zhengping, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau.

Guests talk at the venue of the opening ceremony of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

According to Vice Commerce Minister Sheng Qiuping, China has been the world's second-largest import market for 16 consecutive years, with its goods and service imports set to top 15 trillion U.S. dollars during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

China's ruling party concluded a pivotal meeting last month, approving recommendations for the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, a roadmap that will steer national development through 2030. The document reaffirms China's commitment to promoting high-standard opening up and creating new horizons for mutually beneficial cooperation.

New products

Beyond the record-breaking exhibition scale and participant numbers, the event has attracted 290 Fortune 500 and leading industry players. Notably, American companies maintained the largest exhibition area for the seventh consecutive year.

The Volkswagen Group has chosen to once again hold its global board meeting in Shanghai during the CIIE, while Alfa Laval, a Fortune Global 500 company from Sweden, has also scheduled its meeting at the expo venue. Furthermore, the first-time in-person attendance of senior executives from numerous multinational corporations signals a strong determination to deepen roots in the Chinese market.

"Previously, I only experienced the charm of the CIIE virtually. This time, it is my first visit to the CIIE from France," L'Oréal Group CEO Nicolas Hieronimus said. "The CIIE offers us valuable certainty and demonstrates China's firm commitment to high-level opening-up and high-quality development."

The 8th CIIE is displaying 461 new products, technologies and services. Over the past seven years, a series of global and regional debuts at the expo have turned it into a grand stage for showcasing cutting-edge ideas.

Apart from a dedicated focus on future industries like the low-altitude economy and humanoid robotics, the spotlight at this year's CIIE is also on the latest achievements from the world's premier companies in fields such as new-generation IT, AI, and green, low-carbon development.

An exhibitor demonstrates a humanoid robot at the Intelligent Industry and Information Technology exhibition area during the eighth China International Import Expo in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

On the opening day of the CIIE, Tesla's Cybercab made its Asia-Pacific debut in the Automobile and Smart Mobility area. The sleek golden model, with its sci-fi aesthetic, has no steering wheel or pedals and is built for full self-driving. Tesla revealed that the mass production of Cybercab is scheduled to start in the second quarter of next year.

American firm Johnson Controls, participating in the CIIE for the eighth time, launched at the expo a new-generation YORK CYK high-temperature centrifugal heat pump, a product developed by its team in China. The product helps enterprises reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions while promoting the efficient use of green electricity.

"China is not only a key market and manufacturing base, but also a globally significant source of green innovation and sustainable development. I'm with full confidence in China's economy," said Anu Rathninde, Johnson Controls Asia Pacific president, adding that the company currently has four manufacturing bases, two R&D centers, and over 40 branches in China.

Beyond exhibition 

Today, the CIIE has evolved from a platform for showcasing results into a magnet for global resources and a hub for building substantial partnerships.

Data shows that over the past seven years, the event has featured approximately 3,000 new products, technologies and services, while also facilitating over 1,100 foreign-funded enterprises and investment promotion agencies in conducting targeted matchmaking activities across China. It has so far generated over 500 billion U.S. dollars in intended transactions.

An exhibitor (2nd L) introduces an aircraft product to a visitor (1st L) at the Slovakia Pavilion of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Through years of participation in the CIIE, the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim has not only witnessed its exhibits graduate to marketable products at "China speed," but also evolved from an exhibitor into an investor in China, driven by the country's favorable business environment.

"We truly appreciate the continuous improvement in China's business environment as well as the impressive progress in the healthcare reform," said Mohammed Tawil, president and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China. "These developments have created a more open, fair and predictable environment for multinational companies like us."

Boehringer Ingelheim plans to invest more than 5 billion yuan (about 705.21 million U.S. dollars) in R&D in China over the next five years, according to Tawil.

Anna An, president of Henkel Greater China, noted her admiration for the professionalism of buyers at the expo, who often come with clear cooperation intentions and specific procurement goals. She added that Henkel has steadily increased its innovation investment in China, recently opening a 500-million-yuan adhesive technologies experience center in Shanghai.

China saw the registration of 48,921 new foreign-invested firms in the first three quarters of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 16.2 percent, according to the Ministry of Commerce. From 2021 to 2025, the world's second-largest economy attracted over 700 billion U.S. dollars in cumulative utilized foreign investment, with 25,000 more new foreign-funded enterprises than in the previous five-year period.

Shared prosperity 

Despite mounting global uncertainties, the CIIE continues to serve as a bridge, enabling all to access development opportunities.

Actors perform dance at the Rwanda Pavilion of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Since its inception, the event has consistently provided various preferential treatments and conveniences for the least developed countries (LDCs). For the first time, the 8th CIIE established a dedicated exhibition area for products from the LDCs with diplomatic ties with China, aiming to help their enterprises fully leverage zero-tariff policies and tap into the vast Chinese market. The number of exhibitors from the LDCs has seen a year-on-year increase of 23.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the current session hosted its first-ever Global South sub-forum, focusing on enhancing the economic resilience of the Global South and promoting sustainable agricultural development in these regions.

The CIIE also provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worldwide with an opportunity to shine on the big stage. More than 80 business associations from over 50 countries and regions bring over 1,500 SMEs to this year's expo.

To help overseas SMEs access the Chinese market more efficiently, it launched a cross-border e-commerce platform, integrating the entire process from product display and transactions to logistics and delivery.

Exhibitors promote products via live-streaming at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has become the primary trade partner for more than 150 countries and regions. From 2021 to 2025, its imports of goods and services are projected to exceed 15 trillion U.S. dollars, while its accumulated outbound investment has generated over 300 billion U.S. dollars in tax revenue for host countries, creating substantial employment and advancing their industrialization and modernization.

The story of Peruvian artisan Oswaldo Mamani, shared at a United Nations event in June, offers a vivid snapshot of this broader picture. Through the CIIE, his handmade alpaca plush toys, Warmpaca, found their way into the Chinese market, improving not only his own life but also lifting over 200 local families out of poverty.

"The Chinese market has potential, strong consumer power, and rapid demand growth," Mamani said. "We have to deliver goods five times a year, with each batch ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 items." Now, Warmpaca's booth at the CIIE has expanded from its initial nine square meters to 54 square meters.

Aqeel Chaudhry, a jewelry businessman from Pakistan, has also personally benefited from China's opening up over the years. At the previous CIIE, a pendant from his company, modeled after the expo venue's distinctive four-leaf clover layout, was an instant hit.

"In my eyes, the four-leaf clover represents not only the grand platform of the CIIE but also the deep connection global businesses seek with China," Chaudhry said. In addition to establishing stores in Shanghai and the northern Chinese city of Dalian, Chaudhry has also expanded his brand's presence through partnerships in eastern provinces such as Zhejiang and Jiangsu.