INTERNATIONAL IMPORT EXPO ATTRACTS 4,142 EXHIBITORS

SHANGHAI, NOVEMBER 5 /SRNA/ - The China International Import Expo in Shanghai has brought together 4,142 international exhibitors, including more than 300 companies on Fortune magazine's list of the world's 500 largest companies, as well as leading companies from various industries.

More than 480 exhibits are making their world and Asian, or Chinese, debut at the ninth edition of the expo. This is the highest number in the event's history, the China Media Group reported.

The total exhibition area this year exceeds 440,000 square metres.

US exhibitors occupy more than 50,000 square metres of exhibition space, ranking first for the eighth consecutive year, while companies from Germany, the United Kingdom and France are also among the most strongly represented participants.

This year's expo retains its six main exhibition sections and an innovation incubation section, covering areas such as intelligent industry and information technology, consumer goods, food and agricultural products, automobiles and smart mobility, medical devices and healthcare products, as well as trade in services.

The innovation incubation section features 633 technology and innovation projects from nearly 40 countries and regions, an increase of almost 20 percent compared with the previous edition of the expo.

It is the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to imports and will run until November 10.

Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony.