The China International Import Expo, convened for the past eight years in Shanghai, has transformed its role from being an annual trade matchmaking platform for global companies into becoming a critical gateway for deepening their roots in the world's second-largest economy, senior executives said.

This evolution from a tentative market test to a long-term commitment is marked by a clear trajectory — a growing number of businesses have graduated from first-timers to attendees present at all eight expos, and more importantly, from transient exhibitors to committed investors.

US chemicals company Dow has been an exhibitor at the expo for eight consecutive years, Puay Koon Chia, president for Dow in the Asia-Pacific region, told China Daily at the event, which is on until Monday.

"We have seen the significance of the CIIE promoting win-win cooperation that goes beyond commercial impacts, and is an important manifestation of the Chinese government's resolve to open its market," she said.

The company has made a total of 13 debuts — 10 global and three China debuts — spanning sectors such as intelligent manufacturing, new energy, mobility, sustainable packaging and consumer goods at this year's expo.

"Our solutions displayed at the CIIE have been well accepted by our customers and have generated many new business opportunities and projects," she added.

In addition to bringing new technologies and products, Dow has also been enhancing its local innovation and production capabilities, with its new Cooling Science Studio at the Shanghai Dow Center opening on Tuesday.

"This new studio represents a significant long-term investment, underscoring our confidence in the strength and future growth of China's electronics industry," she said. "It also brings us closer to our customers and allows us to combine global expertise with local insights, creating a space where our teams can work together to shape the future of electronics in the region."

Featuring the largest exhibition area in its history and a record high number of exhibitors, the eighth CIIE has attracted 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations.

Zhou Mi, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that for many multinational corporations, the CIIE has served as a window into China's economic resilience, business-friendly reforms and innovation capacity, strengthening their resolve to expand their presence.

The effect of CIIE on Zespri has also been notable. Since the New Zealand-based kiwifruit marketer's first appearance at the expo in 2018, its sales in the Chinese market have grown by 20 million trays and its net revenue has doubled.

"China's sustained economic development and the expansion of its middle-income group, coupled with Chinese people's growing demand for healthy food products, have underpinned the growth of our business," said Michael Jiang, president of Zespri Greater China.

Beyond launching new products, Zespri is actively exploring the possibility of cultivating kiwifruit locally in China to meet the demand for "year-round supply", according to Jiang.

"Currently, Zespri's kiwifruit in China is sourced from New Zealand and Europe, with availability limited to 10 months of the year. Our goal is to ensure that Chinese consumers can purchase Zespri kiwifruit throughout all 12 months," Jiang added.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Ling Ji said that China will continue to expand market access in the service sector, advance key foreign-invested projects, strengthen intellectual property protection and foster a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.

"We hope foreign-invested enterprises will seize the new opportunities presented by China's development during the coming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30)," Ling said at a roundtable with foreign enterprises on Wednesday in Shanghai during the expo.

wangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn