Exhibitors hail event's organization, service

Foreign exhibitors to the ongoing China International Import Expo (CIIE) gave their thumbs up for the elaborate organization of the grand event held in Shanghai.

The second CIIE attracted more than 3,000 companies from over 150 countries and regions in the corporate and trade expo areas. Both figures surpassed what they were in the inaugural expo last year.

Many exhibitors and visitors commended the convenient and developed traffic network at Hongqiao transportation hub, where the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the CIIE's venue, was located, saying it is a major point linking Shanghai and the rapidly developing neighboring provinces within the Yangtze River Delta region as well as the entire nation.

In addition to increasing train frequency to facilitate travel to Shanghai ahead of and during the expo, an underground passage linking Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and the National Exhibition and Convention Center was recently opened. From the railway station, it takes only six minutes on a shuttle bus to arrive at the expo venue.

"The efficient traffic network of aviation, high-speed railway, metros and buses will help attract more purchasers from all over the country to look for their partners worldwide," said Zhao Bo, China brand and marketing head of Sealy, a mattress producer headquartered in the United States.

The company, which participated in CIIE for the second time, said it was also impressed by the capacity and efficiency of the grand event at the venue, the world's largest exhibition complex.

"We also learned that there were upgraded facilitation measures, including the use of big-data technology, to help exhibitors and their items for exhibition going through customs more smoothly this year, and we really appreciate the city's efforts in preparing for the grand expo," she said.

Takayoshi Mimura, chairman of board of Japan-based medical instrument manufacturer Terumo Corporation, said that it was what they experienced from the elaborate organization of the expo last year that made them decide to attach more importance to the preparation for this year.

"We've officially submitted an application to participate in the expo in 2020 and have decided we'll continue doing so in the following year," he said.

Some foreign media noticed that robots communicating in both English and Chinese are available for assistance at the expo venue.

Cuba's Prensa Latina News Agency reported that 20 such bilingual robots were located at the expo for the first time, providing on-site guidance and a schedule inquiry service at the seven exhibition areas to exhibitors and visitors. More than 80 translation machines, which can provide translation services between 12 languages, are also available at the expo.

The Shanghai Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau said in the past two months it had focused on releasing resources of available hotel rooms, stabilizing prices, encouraging hotels to provide city tour and shopping information in an attempt to "be able to accommodate all guests from home and abroad and ensure they have a pleasant stay".

"Domestic garbage sorting, which began to be implemented in Shanghai on July 1, was one key point during our training at the hotels. We encourage all the hotels to popularize green and sustainable lifestyle to domestic and foreign guests," Zhang Qi, deputy head of the bureau, told Xinhua News Agency.

Nearly 5,900 volunteers, including 3,000 working within the expo venue, are providing guidance, service, and assistance to visitors and exhibitors during the expo.