By LI Linxu

As an important platform to advance high-level opening up, the sixth edition of China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10.

Participants from 154 countries, regions and international organizations are expected to join this year's CIIE, said Sheng Qiuping, vice minister of commerce, at a recent media briefing.

More than 3,400 exhibitors and 394,000 professional visitors have registered to attend the event, said Sheng, noting that CIIE is welcomed around the world, with an increasingly larger circle of friends.

Sixty-nine countries and three international organization have confirmed to be this year's country exhibitors, of which 11 attend CIIE for the first time.

Honduras, Kazakhstan, Serbia, South Africa and Vietnam will serve as this year's guest countries of honor.

The National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) is decorated to welcome the upcoming sixth CIIE. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

Of particular note is that this year's China Pavilion will cover 2,500 square meters, the largest ever in the history of the CIIE.

The exhibition area of the business exhibition will be around 367,000 square meters, and 289 Global Fortune 500 companies and industry-leading enterprises will attend this year's CIIE, both exceeding the previous levels.

The industry heavy-weights to attend the expo include the world's top 15 vehicle brands, top 10 industrial electrical companies, and top 10 medical equipment companies.

The world's top three miners, top four grain traders, and top five shipping companies will also be on the stage of this year's expo.

A batch of new products in the fields of high-end equipment manufacturing, green and environmental protection, and biotechnologies will be unveiled at this year's expo.

The Hongqiao International Economic Forum, an important part of the CIIE, will host a series of forums, and release the World Openness Report 2023, according to Sheng.