(ECNS) -- China's flagship import fair has drawn record participation this year, underscoring its effort to project openness and maintain investor confidence amid a shifting global trade environment.

The photo shows the entrance of the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. (Photo provided to China News Service)

Now in its eighth year, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) has attracted 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and organizations, occupying 430,000 square meters of exhibition space, the largest in the event's history, according to Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping.

Since its debut in 2018, CIIE has recorded an accumulated intended turnover exceeding $500 billion, reflecting China's sustained pledge to open its market to global suppliers. The 2025 edition showcases 461 new products, technologies and services, including strong representation from the United States, which for the seventh consecutive year accounts for the fair's largest exhibition area.

Sheng said 290 Fortune Global 500 firms and industry leaders are attending this year's expo, highlighting both China's vast consumer potential and continued international interest in its market.

Participation from 123 Belt and Road partner countries rose 23.1% year-on-year. Meanwhile, that from the least developed countries has risen 23.5% to 163 enterprises.

Exhibitors from developing nations such as Nepal, Ethiopia, and Rwanda have leveraged CIIE to sell cashmere, coffee and chili products directly into the Chinese market.

Officials said the expo has evolved from a trade fair into a platform linking emerging-market suppliers with Chinese distributors and e-commerce firms. A Peruvian artisan cooperative, for example, now exports handmade alpaca dolls to China, helping more than 200 families escape poverty.

China's openness continues to deepen. The foreign investment negative list has been cut to 29 items, with all restrictions in the manufacturing sector removed. With its institutional opening-up, China is encouraging more foreign investors and companies to "vote with their feet."

During the ongoing 14th Five-Year Plan, China's contribution to global economic growth has remained around 30%, solidifying its role as the engine of global growth, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Looking ahead, the 15th Five-Year Plan proposal places expansion of high-level opening-up in an even more prominent position.

Evolving beyond a traditional trade fair, the CIIE has grown into a global platform that fosters cooperation, promotes mutually beneficial trade exchanges, and advances the alignment of institutional and regulatory frameworks. It has become a global public good shared by all nations.

Organizers say CIIE's mission has evolved far beyond market access. The event now acts as a global public good, offering a venue for international cooperation and shared development. As global uncertainty intensifies, officials argue, China's "high-quality development" and continued openness provide a measure of stability for multinational investors.

(By Gong Weiwei)