In three days, the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will open at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, running from November 5 to 10, with the Hongqiao International Economic Forum held alongside.
The figures released at the Ministry of Commerce briefing on October 29 are already striking: 162 countries, regions and international organizations will participate; total exhibition space exceeds 440,000 square meters for the first time; the business exhibition alone surpasses 370,000 square meters; 4,142 overseas companies from 148 countries and regions have registered, the highest in the expo's history; Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders exceed 300 for the first time; and more than 480 representative innovations will be unveiled, with the number of global debuts, Asian premieres and China premieres reaching a record high.
Every outlet will report those numbers. Beyond them, three structural shifts deserve closer attention this year.
1. The Exhibitor List: 2,000 New Faces, Nearly 200 Veterans
More than 2,000 companies will exhibit at the CIIE for the first time this year. At the same time, nearly 200 companies and institutions have attended all nine editions.
Both ends of the spectrum are expanding at once, which is the first defining feature of this year's exhibitor structure.
The second change lies in how participation is organized. Huang Ling, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, noted at the briefing that overseas exhibition organizers have become a "new force," with more than 90 overseas delegations set to appear and exhibition space up nearly 8 percent year on year. In previous editions, companies mostly participated individually; this year, the share of institutionally organized groups has risen markedly.
For the Country Exhibition, 69 countries and international organizations will participate. Canada and Sri Lanka serve as guest countries of honor, while Moldova, Romania and the United Nations Development Programme join for the first time.
Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have also posted record figures. Hong Kong brings nearly 400 companies and close to 36,000 square meters of exhibition space, both record highs, and will establish a "Going Global Services Zone" for the first time. Macao brings nearly 80 companies and about 3,400 square meters, up 52.6 percent year on year, and will set up a "Commerce and Convergence Pavilion" for the first time. The Taiwan region will occupy about 4,200 square meters, up 10.1 percent.
2. The Product List: 480 Debuts, Hard Tech at the Front
More than 480 representative products will make their global debut, Asian premiere or China premiere at this year's CIIE, a record. Of these, more than 200 are global debuts or CIIE premieres.
Among the disclosed premieres, hard technology accounts for a notably larger share: a cochlear implant capable of sensing sound from all directions, a 6G terminal prototype, and a water treatment system that can soften and remineralize water simultaneously.
The consumer side has new sections as well. For the first time, the expo will feature a "Global National Brands" showcase, selecting about 100 long-established and high-quality brands with strong consumer recognition, with a focus on the guest countries of honor and the annual "Export to China" theme countries. The food and agricultural products zone narrows its focus to the needs of the elderly and children, organizing exhibits around nutrition, immune support and scientific feeding.
Moving from "exhibiting everything" to "organizing by theme" is a more telling change than the sheer number of products.
3. After the Show: From Exhibits to Production Lines
The real watershed for the CIIE comes after the exhibition closes.
Siemens Healthineers, a nine-time participant, brings a globally debuting intelligent ring-shaped individualized radiotherapy platform. The company already operates six R&D and manufacturing bases and two global innovation centers in China, with more than 150 products locally developed and produced and a supply chain localization rate above 80 percent.
Bayer brings nearly 30 premieres, first shows and local development achievements this year. Wang Su, vice president of public and government affairs and sustainability at Bayer China, said: "In recent years, our layout in China has been shifting from 'importing products' to 'open innovation,' continuously strengthening local R&D, production and supply capabilities." Over the past eight editions, Bayer has brought 17 "CIIE babies" to market, and its MEDRAD Stellant D-CE high-pressure injection system achieved localized production in 2025.
Novartis has located its industrialization base in Pudong. In October, construction began on the Novartis Life Sciences Industrialization Base in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, with a total investment of about 1.8 billion yuan. The project will be open to companies in innovative drugs, medical devices and other life science fields, offering end-to-end space from pilot production to manufacturing.
AstraZeneca has turned its booth into a wall of medicines, displaying nearly 50 innovative drugs introduced over its 30 years in China. Backed by an investment plan announced earlier this year to commit more than 100 billion yuan in China by 2030, the company will also disclose progress on a new-generation therapy manufacturing base and upgrades to existing facilities during the expo.
Some are coming for the first time. WFL Milling Technology of Austria shipped a high-end machine tool from Austria to Shanghai, a 36-day sea journey, for its Asian premiere at this year's CIIE. Liu Yanxia, the company's chief representative, said: "This is also our first time participating in the CIIE. The company hopes to use this platform to extend its business from the Chinese market to the entire Asia-Pacific region."
The host city's preparations are equally concrete. Shanghai has introduced 18 measures to facilitate customs clearance and set up 123 dedicated CIIE service windows and channels, enabling exhibits to be inspected and released upon arrival. The number of business negotiation areas has increased to 19, with total space three times that of the previous edition. With the channel for converting temporarily imported exhibits into regular imports now open, clearance time for imported consumer goods has been cut from a minimum of seven days to same-day release.
4. Where the Ninth Edition Stands
Taken together: new faces and veterans are expanding simultaneously; participation is shifting from individual companies to institutional delegations; exhibits are moving from sheer volume to thematic organization; and beyond the show itself lies a stream of R&D centers, manufacturing bases and industrialization projects landing in China.
Nine editions in, the yardstick for measuring the CIIE has changed. The 440,000 square meters describe the capacity of these six days. The production line, the base, the research team that remain in China after the doors close are its actual output.
The expo opens in three days. This edition's report card will only begin to be written after the doors shut on November 10.
(Compiled from the Ministry of Commerce regular press briefing, China News Service, People's Daily and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government portal.)