By Theodora Amedetor.
The second China International Import Expo, is underway in Shanghai, in the People’s Republic of China. Opening the Expo, the Chinese President, XI Jinping, reiterated China’s commitment to playing its part in the reduction of trade barriers, so as to improve the global value and supply chain.
He said the problems confronting the world’s economy, cannot be resolved by any country alone. There was the need for all to put the common good of humanity first, rather than self interest.
“We need to strengthen the mechanisms for sharing benefits globally, and explore new ways of international cooperation,” he stressed.
President Xi intimated that the goal is to give more impetus to economic globalization and remove impediments as much as possible.
In the same vein, other participating countries, such as France, Greece, Belarus and Jamaica, noted the transformation of the Chinese economy and praised the results achieved so far, in terms of opening of the Chinese market.
“The choice of China’s opening has allowed the fastest and most massive economic and social change in the history of humanity,” French President Emmanuel Macron complimented.
President Macron called for a greater opening of China and its domestic market, and urged respect for the sovereignty of other countries, and trading partners.
He however cautioned that “China is no longer the world’s workshop for the production of low-cost products”, but intends to develop its domestic market, offer prospects to its middle class, and now occupy the top ranks in the global competition, with high value-added technological products.
The China International Import Expo, CIIE, is a concept of China to firmly support trade liberalization and economic globalisation, promote the Belt and Road Initiative, while actively opening up China’s markets to the world.
The first CIIE, in 2018, is said to have achieved great success. Ninety-Eight initiatives were agreed upon, of which 23 have now been completed, 47 are making good progress, and 28 are on track of steady implementation.
On the theme, “New Era, Shared Future”, the 2019 CIIE consist of a National Exhibition, Business exhibition and the Hongqiao international Economic Forum.
Ghana is among the over 150 countries, and organisations taking part in the 2nd China International Import Expo.
