The booth area for the first China International Import Expo slated for November in Shanghai has been overbooked by 20 percent, Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan said Sunday.[Special coverage]
Enterprises from more than 120 countries and regions have submitted their applications for the annual Expo, Zhong told a press conference on the sidelines of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress.
More than 150,000 purchasers from around the world are expected during the event, he said.
Besides commercial exhibition for enterprises, China has also plans to invite 60 countries to showcase their national image at the expo. More than 60 countries have registered so far.
The CIIE is a public platform for global trade development, he said.
China will provide support for participants and exempt least-developed countries from the exhibition fee, he said.
The CIIE is one of four major global events to be hosted by China this year, along with the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in April, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in June and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in September.
