The AW189 medium-lift helicopter, manufactured by Leonardo from Italy, is the most expensive item on display at the China International Import Expo. (Photo: Yang Hui/ GT)
The China International Import Expo (CIIE) opens at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on Monday, and runs for six days until November 10.
CIIE is regarded as a significant move to further open the Chinese market to the world. Enterprises from around 140 countries and regions have signed up thus far, including 160 Fortune 500 firms and industry-leading enterprises, according to China Central Television (CCTV).
They will showcase their products to Chinese purchasers for import.
All participating countries will also hold vibrant exchange activities during the expo. More than 5,000 exhibitors have come to China for the first time at this exhibition.
As one of the largest exhibition areas at this expo, the High-End Intelligent Equipment area covers many high-end technology intensive fields such as aerospace, robotics and automation. The world's top 500 enterprises and industry leaders are prominent, bringing a large number of high-profile debut products.
For example, the AW189 medium-lift helicopter, manufactured by Leonardo from Italy, is the most valuable single product at the Expo, at 200 million yuan ($29 million). The company has high hopes for the China debut of the AW189 - a high-performance, 8.6-ton super-medium-sized twin-engine helicopter. It takes a leading role among helicopters of the same type around the world by various indicators.
The helicopter has a full cruise speed of 287 kilometers per hour and a maximum range of more than 1,000 kilometers. It can be flexibly applied in various complex missions such as commuting, search and rescue, law enforcement and so on.
"The logistics team used a 10-ton crane, and took several hours to put it in place," the officer of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) told CCTV.
A 20-meter long portal milling machine called Taurus is the largest item at the expo. The item, delivered by Cosco Shipping, was made by German industrial manufacturer Waldrich Coburg. Taurus was packed into 12 containers and sent from Hamburg, Germany on October 8 to arrive at the Shanghai Yangshan Port the next day, according to yicaiglobal.com.
It is 10 meters wide and 8 meters high, covering an area of 200 square meters and weighing nearly 200 tons. It has zero wear, high precision, and strong and efficient energy-saving qualities. The expo will be its first show in Asia.
The first China International Import Expo covers 30,000 square meters, including seven areas: High-End Intelligent Equipment, Consumer Electronics and Appliances, Automobile, Apparel, Accessories and Consumer Goods, Food and Agricultural Products, Trade in Services, and Medical Equipment and Medical Care Products.
Of the signed companies, 34 percent are from developed countries, while 10 percent are from the least developed countries. Companies from countries involved in the Belt and Road initiative account for 34 percent of the signed companies.
