Qingdao-based companies seize opportunities to forge lasting partnerships with international businesses at this year's CIIE, focusing on shared innovation and long-term growth. [Photo by Liu Lanxing/Guanhai News]

The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) concluded on Nov 10 in Shanghai, receiving 92.2 million visitors and $83.49 billion in intended transactions, setting a new record on both counts. Among the 4,108 participating enterprises, Qingdao stood out as a "super buyer", achieving strong procurement results.

The coastal city's 151 procurement signed 249 purchase orders with 190 enterprises from 45 countries, recording a 5.1 percent year-on-year increase in intended procurement value. Major deals focused on meat products, technology equipment, and healthcare products.

For many overseas brands, the CIIE serves as a prime gateway to the Chinese market and a platform to expand sales channels. Numerous Qingdao enterprises are actively working to facilitate the entry of these global products into China.

A standout example was Asaipu (Qingdao) Investment Development Group signing a $30 million, three-year deal with Malaysia's Lai Fat Kee to introduce premium durian products. The group plans to establish Lai Fat Kee's China headquarters in Qingdao, featuring themed restaurants across the city.

In addition to launching into a procurement spree, Qingdao-based companies are strategically evolving their role at CIIE. This year, they seized opportunities to forge lasting partnerships with international businesses, focusing on shared innovation and long-term growth.

Qingdao Sino-Africa Business Council President Huang Jingyi noted, "The CIIE has transformed buyer-seller relationships into comprehensive partnerships involving joint research and development and market development." The chamber is advancing a China-Africa digital health management platform to introduce advanced medical technologies to African markets.

This year's CIIE debuted a dedicated zone for the least developed countries, with 163 enterprises from such nations participating — a nearly 25 percent increase from last year. This move is part of the expo's eighth-year shift towards greater engagement with the Global South, showcasing its enhanced inclusivity, openness, and its role in injecting certainty into the world economy.