China International Imports Expo 2026 opens world to China, builds new bridges

2026/11/9

The 9th China International Imports Expo in Shanghai, East China brings over 4,100 overseas companies from 162 countries and regions and international organizations together for trade and commerce connections in China. (People's Daily Online/Andrew Smith)

The 9th China International Imports Expo (CIIE) is currently running from November 5 to 10, 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The world's first and largest trade expo dedicated exclusively to imports, it is considered widely to be one of the most critical and dynamic events for foreign countries and companies to tap into the China market.

The CIIE has brought together over 4,100 overseas companies from 162 countries and regions and international organizations - including 300 Global Fortune 500 companies- across 440,000 square meters of exhibition space. Over 480 products are making their debuts at the expo, ranging from medical technology to AI-based products.

The Country Exhibition has featured 69 countries and international organizations to showcase national images, trade environments, and cultural achievements. Canada and Sri Lanka served as guest countries of honor, with Canada doubling its number of exhibitors compared to its first appearance. Moldova, Romania and three other countries, along with the United Nations Development Programme, participated for the first time. US companies lead in exhibition space for the eighth consecutive year.

The Islamic Republic of Iran exhibition at the 9th China International Imports Expo's Country Pavilion is one of 69 countries and international organizations being exhibited this year. (People's Daily Online/Andrew Smith)

Each year, also the CIIE hosts a number of signature cultural exchanges, with this year including intangible cultural heritage workshops, a food festival with a Global Food Tasting Zone, and the Arts Showcase, which this year is working in partnership with China Fashion Week for the first time.

The products available at this year's CIIE ranged wildly. On the first day alone, goods ranging from kitchenware to jade, computer chips to sunglasses, were being exhibited on the showroom floor. Nearly every major world industry- from electronics to food to toys- were featured across the exhibition space across the five days.

Embroidered rugs from Pakistan for sale at the 9th China International Imports Expo in Shanghai, East China. (People's Daily Online/Andrew Smith)

Robotics were a major product highlighted at many exhibition pavilions. Robot pets, robot baristas, robot arms for use in surgery and manufacturing, and robotic housecleaning prototypes were displayed and available for purchase or pre-purchase.

Various other new forms of technology were also premiering at the expo. A pair of glasses that could be used for language translation shows the potential for modern tech to break down language barriers. Smartwatches filled with AI LLM-based apps can make everyday life easier and more accessible on everyone's wrists.

Driverless smart cars and prototypes for new aircraft on the showroom floor offered a glimpse into the future of transport- safer, faster and more efficient.

Smart aircraft being showcased at the 9th China International Imports Expo in Shanghai, East China. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Rong)

Several medical technology companies were debuting new tech this year at CIIE. Siemens, Johnson & Johnson and SonoVue all launched new products and services for the global and China markets on the showroom floor. Johnson & Johnson premiered a surgical robot system that can perform minimally invasive minor surgery, while SonoVue unveiled a new cochlear implant able to detect sounds from all directions.

The most important thing debuting at the CIIE, however, was less tangible than the goods and products on the showroom floor: connections. At CIIE, bridges are built and partnerships are established or strengthened. Businesses tap into the China market in new and dynamic ways, flooding both Chinese and international markets with new opportunities and income.

The Ikea exhibition at the 9th China International Imports Expo in Shanghai, East China debuts new products from the company onto the China market. (People's Daily Online/Andrew Smith)

It should also be noted that the CIIE is a place where companies shift from simple trade partners to being deeply integrated into China's supply chain. It's a place where international companies don’t just find Chinese buyers, but also Chinese suppliers and advertisers. This makes localization easier and more streamlined, and makes for more permanent bonds between markets. Distribution partnerships and joint agreements between companies and even countries are made at CIIE, making it a crucial economic node on a global scale.

Many business representatives and diplomats People's Daily Online spoke to mentioned how China's 15th Five Year Plan is a great opportunity for innovation in products and development of high-quality productive forces. China's attitude for cooperation and win-win outcomes is better for business in the long run, and gives the chance for countries' economies to get ahead together rather than as rivals.

The CIIE is more than just a trade show or imports expo: it is a place where China's opening up and the world's engagement with China is deepened and enriched. It is an event unlike any other, with boundless opportunities that everyone who attends can benefit from severalfold and help better the lives of consumers in China and across the world.

Thanks to the efforts of the CIIE, China and the rest of the world are becoming closer than ever.