The third China International Import Expo (CIIE) has made strong inroads in attracting exhibitors, with more than 50 global companies signing up for the event during a ceremony that took place both offline and online on May 15.

The companies that confirmed their participation are mainly from the United States, Japan, Germany, France and Italy. They include renowned companies from the US such as General Electric, Pfizer and Estée Lauder.

Fast Retailing, the parent company of UNIQLO, also signed up for the CIIE for the first time, booking an exhibition area measuring 1,500 square meters.

Among the companies that signed up for the expo at the ceremony, 54 percent are Fortune 500 companies that have signed up for some 30,000-sq-m of exhibition space.

According to the CIIE Bureau, more than 80 percent of the planned exhibition area has been booked by exhibitors.

"CIIE serves as the platform for international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchange, and opening-up and cooperation," said Wang Bingnan, vice-minister of commerce and director of the CIIE Bureau, while addressing the ceremony. "Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to successfully host the third CIIE shows China's crucial role and responsibility in restoring the global economy," he added.

- from ChinaDaily.com.cn