A visiting delegation said in Helsinki on Tuesday that China is keen to increase the number of Finnish companies to participate in the second China International Import Expo held in Shanghai later this year.
A delegation led by Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan discussed with the Finnish companies and issued an official invitation to 100 delegates in November.
“The new era, the common future” is not only the theme of CIIE, but an invitation from China to share the huge consumption potential of China’s 1.4 billion people, Wang said in a roadshow held by the Chinese Embassy in Finland.
Speaking at the CIIE Inaugural Meeting in November 2018, President Xi Jinping said that as the lives of Chinese citizens continue to escalate, China may import more than $30 trillion worth of goods and $10 trillion in services over the next 15 years.
Wang said that China has become Finland’s largest trading partner in Asia for 15 years. CIIE is an excellent opportunity for businessmen from both countries to deepen their partnership and expand economic cooperation.
“This year is the China-Finland Winter Sports Year. We hope that Finnish companies including the winter sports industry will join the second CIIE to showcase their products and services,” Wang said.
During the first CIIE, a Finnish concept biofuel car called Biofore became the first exhibition of the Expo to Shanghai and became the focus of attention. It was exhibited at the Finnish National Pavilion to showcase the country’s strengths in the forest industry, clean technology, shipping and clean energy.
According to Jusa Susia, head of the East Asian region of the Finnish Ministry of Commerce, a business delegation consisting of 91 Finnish companies also participated in the first exhibition with Chinese partners.
Sussia said that during the six-day event, eight Finnish companies signed more than 20 contracts worth 20 billion dollars in a 20-day contract.
He said that this year, Finland will continue to use CIIE as a platform to explore more partnerships not only in industries such as information technology and clean energy, but also in winter sports and early childhood education.
As China prepares to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, this country is not a country with a strong winter sports country. It has joined hands with Finland to launch the 2019 Winter Olympics in China and Finland to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
Anne-Mari Virolainen, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, said: “I believe this special cooperation year can provide many very interesting opportunities for Finnish and local companies as well as the public sector until the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.” When she led the business delegation Participated in the opening week of the 2019 China Finnish Winter Sports Year in Beijing in January.
Valle Kulmala, CEO of Air0 Air Purifiers Inc. in Helsinki, also attended the road show and shared the company’s experience at the first CIIE. He said that Air0 has benefited more than expected from last year’s participation. Kulmala said that the company already knows a lot of end users and partners, which allows Air0 to better understand market trends.
Although Air0 has signed the second CIIE, five companies including Beneq, Venla-Tuote Oy and Havina By North Oy also registered the event during the roadshow. The Finnish company Elozo Oy, who has already signed up for the second World Expo, has even registered for the annual event next year.
The Ministry of Commerce said that more than 1,800 companies have signed up for the second CIIE. More than 900 companies from 77 countries and regions have confirmed their participation, including 180 Fortune Global 500 companies and leading companies in various industries. The spokesman said at the press conference on April 4.
As the world’s first import-themed national-level fair, the first CIIE was held in Shanghai from November 5th to November 10th, and finally reached a transaction worth about $57.8 billion.
