The Director of the Coordination Office of the Municipal Commerce Bureau, Mr. Xiao Ping, provided an update on the current preparations for the Third China International Import Expo.
I. Relevant Background
The Central Committee places a high priority on the Import and Trade Fair. Following a briefing by General Secretary Xi Jinping, a significant directive was issued, requiring the third Import and Trade Fair to continue leveraging its four key platforms: the International Procurement Platform, the Investment Promotion Platform, the Cultural Exchange Platform, and the International Investment Platform. Furthermore, the directive calls for the creation of a world-class Import and Trade Fair and a high-level Hongqiao International Forum. In the work report presented by Premier Li Keqiang at the National People's Congress, the importance of successfully hosting the third Import and Trade Fair is emphasized in 30 words: "To successfully host the third Import and Trade Fair, we must expand imports and develop a higher-level, global market."
In the current international context, the successful hosting of the third China International Import Expo is of paramount importance. On June 24, Vice Premier Hu Chunhua convened the first meeting of the organizing committee for the third China International Import Expo to implement the instructions of the General Secretary, outlining the specific requirements for the expo. On July 14, Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang organized a meeting of the Shanghai City Service and Support Leading Group. On July 24, the Shanghai Municipal Government and the China International Import Expo Bureau jointly held a press conference, releasing four key signals: 1. The third China International Import Expo will be held as scheduled, with the venue remaining unchanged. 2. The offline-centric exhibition model will remain unchanged. 3. The overall requirement of "achieving better results through implementation" proposed by the General Secretary will remain unchanged. 4. All preparatory work for the third China International Import Expo will be carried out under the normal state of epidemic prevention and control.
August 1st - 15th: All departments are to urgently develop the overall COVID-19 prevention and control plan for the exhibition, as well as the specific plans for each zone, with a particular focus on implementing measures for personnel and goods entering the exhibition.
**II. Business Development and Exhibition Opportunities**
As of today, all corporate exhibition booth applications have been successfully completed. Some booths have exceeded the planned area. The number of leading companies participating in the exhibition has surpassed that of the previous year. In terms of policy support, in addition to the 13 existing policies, 6 new policies have been introduced.
III. City-Level Support
All 16 districts of Shanghai have mobilized, and the municipal government has established a City Security and Coordination Task Force. The task force is focusing on 205 key tasks related to security and public order, traffic management, urban beautification, and sanitation, among other areas.
"Despite the challenges that the third China International Import Expo will face, we are confident that, with the support of various sectors of society, we will achieve the overall goal set by the General Secretary: to continuously improve and excel."
According to Mr. Chen Jianxin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Shanghai Exhibition and Convention Industry Association, the following requirements were presented at the meeting:
1. Maintain and implement the next phase of resumption of operations and activities.
The initial phase of Shanghai's resumption of business and exhibitions has largely concluded, with major venues' exhibition schedules for the second half of the year now largely booked. Ensuring the stable operation of exhibitions under the ongoing requirements of normalized COVID-19 prevention is a key priority for the coming months, potentially extending into the first half of next year. Given the long-term nature of the pandemic and China's dynamic zero-COVID policy, we must maintain the highest standards of vigilance. The successful execution of these exhibitions is our primary objective. We encourage all participants to prioritize their responsibilities and diligently implement preventative measures, recognizing that this is not only a matter for individual businesses but for the entire industry.
Two. Prioritize Party directives and policies.
The Association's Party Committee has recently completed its term, and the Committee is responsible for managing its affiliated branches as well as overseeing the entire industry. The Committee's primary responsibilities can be summarized as follows: 1. **Defining Priorities:** Establishing clear political, developmental, and reform objectives. 2. **Overseeing Key Matters:** Managing major decisions, significant risks, and crucial coordination efforts. 3. **Ensuring Implementation:** Guaranteeing the implementation of ideas, ensuring effective organizational structure, and maintaining robust oversight.
We encourage all industry associations to play a more effective role. Furthermore, we hope that exhibition companies will take on greater responsibility and contribute to addressing the employment challenges faced by graduating university students this year.

Finally, the conference called upon all association members to proactively implement measures to prevent rebound and external transmission, and to effectively manage the epidemic, thereby supporting the successful and smooth holding of the 3rd China International Import Expo. This includes upholding the positive image of Shanghai's exhibition industry and ensuring the resumption of operations for all participants, in preparation for the Expo. The agenda for the 4th Executive Council meeting has been fully completed, and the 5th Executive Council meeting of the Shanghai Exhibition Industry Association has concluded successfully.