The booth of the State of Mato Grosso, one of Brazil's important agricultural and livestock regions, at the 7th CIIE. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The ongoing China International Import Expo held in Shanghai is providing an open stage for the Global South economies to showcase their specialty products and connect with business opportunities in the Chinese market and beyond.
The inclusiveness of the CIIE, which will run through Sunday, can be witnessed through a slew of practical actions this year. They include a sub-forum circling around the sustainable development of Global South and China-Africa cooperation, capacity expansion of the exhibition area for products from Africa, and free booths and other support provided to the least developed countries.
For Bilel ben Hamida, executive director of Connect International, a non-governmental organization in Tunisia that helps local businesses seek market opportunities overseas, it is his second time to lead a delegation to participate in the CIIE this year after debut last year.
"We come back as the CIIE brought practical benefits for us. We made contacts with not only Chinese but also with people from other countries during last year's CIIE," said Hamida.
"Moreover, the CIIE connected us with local Chinese distributors so that our exhibits at last year's CIIE, including olive oil and natural dates, have already turned into commodities sold in the country," he said.
A variety of spicy sauce products are making debut at the booth of Tunisia this year. "Many local distributors have shown interest in such products, and we look forward to introducing them into the local market soon," said Hamida.
At the booth of Rwanda, which is participating in the CIIE for the third time, visitors are lining up to have a sip of coffee offered by Rwanda Farmers Coffee Company, which is making its debut at this year's CIIE.
At the booth of Rwanda at 7th CIIE, visitors are lining up to have a sip of local coffee. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"These 100 percent pure Arabica coffee beans are grown on the shores of Lake Kivu in Nyamasheke, Western Province of Rwanda. The high elevation, the humid equatorial mist from the lake, and the rich volcano soils create an ideal environment for such unique coffee beans," said Prince Muramba, an official with the Rwanda Development Board.
"This coffee bean product is sold in France and Finland. We hope the CIIE can help accelerate bringing it into China, which we see as the first step into the Asia market," he said.
The State of Mato Grosso, one of Brazil's important agricultural and livestock regions, is participating in the CIIE for the second consecutive year this time. Its delegation consists of representatives from five agricultural associations and more than 40 businesses, as well as entrepreneurs.
The state has already signed a number of memorandums of cooperation with Chinese government departments and trade delegations at the CIIE, covering areas, including trade and logistics transport, and the production, trade and investment of agricultural commodities.
"Welcome to discover the vibrant State of Mato Grosso, which is also an ideal starting point for Chinese enterprises to enter the Latin American market," said César Miranda, secretary of Economic Development of Mato Grosso.
Peter Kagwanja, president of Africa Policy Institute in Kenya, said what China conveys through its efforts in bridging international cooperation is that the country's development benefits not only itself.
"We need to think of a multi-polar world order, and an ultimate situation is that all the nations are equal, and all the people are equal. China's leadership is very important," he said.
