As an ideal place to meet potential business partners from around the world and gather information, the seventh China International Import Expo, which will take place from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai, opened registration for professional visitors on Monday.

"Visitors can submit their applications on the expo's official website (www.ciie.org), mobile app or WeChat mini program," said a staff member from the CIIE Bureau.

"After registration, visitors will have access to the latest information about this year's exhibitors and their exhibits. They can also make online appointments with exhibitors, submit procurement requirements to find precise matches, receive invitations to various activities and enjoy services provided by professional guides during the expo," the staff member added.

Hailed as a springboard for global companies looking to enter the Chinese market or expand their business, the CIIE has garnered increasing attention around the world. It provides a platform for global companies and agencies to interact directly with Chinese consumers and to network with industry players and possible business partners.

Over the years, companies from 173 countries and regions have made appearances at the CIIE, showcasing nearly 2,500 new products, technologies and services.

More than 1,100 supporting activities, including supply-demand matchmaking sessions, have been launched during past editions of the CIIE, grossing more than $420 billion in tentative transactions.

Following a string of global roadshows to invite exhibitors over the past few months, the expo is now initiating the application process for professional visitors.

A roadshow to entice professional visitors, including buyers, to the seventh CIIE kicked off on Tuesday in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province.

This event marked the beginning of the expo's upcoming series of promotional campaigns in 2024, which are intended to encourage more trade missions to participate in this year's show.

More than 30 exhibitors from the expo's exhibition areas of food and agricultural products, intelligent industry and information technology, as well as medical equipment and healthcare products — including Mitsubishi, Bayer, Asahi Kasei and Schneider Electric — connected with representatives of nearly 200 buyers, including Hubei International Trade Group and Jointown Pharmaceutical Group, during the roadshow.

"We will optimize the setting of exhibition areas and special zones, attach greater importance to the world's leading new products, technologies and services, and further delve into core products and technologies," said Sun Chenghai, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau and chairman of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the CIIE venue, during the event.

"The seventh CIIE has now officially opened registration for domestic and international professional visitors," Sun said. "The expo will enhance the 'government plus market' dual-drive mechanism for inviting professional visitors and improve the services provided to them."

"We will continue to support localities to make full use of the annual CIIE to hold supporting activities such as investment matchmaking sessions and present local preferential policies, investment environment and industrial merits to more global brands with an interest in the Chinese market," Sun added.

"We hope that all countries and regions will fully leverage the CIIE as an open platform for collaboration and capitalize on the dividends and opportunities offered by the CIIE," Sun noted.