The annual CIIE (China International Import Expo) is being held in Shanghai as scheduled, one month prior to the 20th anniversary of China's entry into the WTO. While showcasing their products at the CIIE, exhibitors from foreign companies also have plenty to say about the Chinese market.

The continuous optimization of the business environment in the Chinese market has further enhanced the attractiveness and creativity of the Chinese economy, making it one of the most dynamic and influential markets for many companies in the world, according to Yann Bozec, president of Tapestry Asia-Pacific & CEO of Coach China. In his eyes, since China’s accession to the WTO, the country’s high-level opening-up measures have injected strong energy into the world economy, which has further strengthened the confidence and determination of Tapestry to continue to invest in the Chinese market.

(Yann Bozec, president of Tapestry Asia-Pacific & CEO of Coach China)  

“China’s accession to the WTO has created more opportunities for Chinese enterprises to go global and for global clients to enter China,” said Ai Zhouping, president of Heraeus Greater China regional headquarters. Over the past 20 years in China, Heraeus has seen rapid development of its client industries, such as electric vehicles, photovoltaics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and health, and environmental protection. China’s WTO accession has also made the Chinese market more internationalized, so that many of Heraeus’s products and technologies developed by the German headquarters are able to come to China.

(Ai Zhouping, president of Heraeus Greater China regional headquarters)

As one of the first companies to enter China since the reform and opening up policy was launched in 1978, Unilever firmly supports economic globalization and China's reform and opening up; now, it is more deeply aware of the value and significance of the “dual circulation” development pattern, which “represents that China will continue to deepen reform and opening up and develop globally,” said Zeng Xiwen, global vice-president of Unilever & president of its public affairs in China. The fact that China will continue to deepen reform and opening up and develop globally has increased Unilever’s confidence in the Chinese market and has therefore resulted in continued investment here. “In the next decade, China’s growth will lead Unilever’s global growth, and Unilever’s global growth will depend on the growth of the Chinese market,” added Zeng. 

(Zeng Xiwen, global vice-president of Unilever & president of its public affairs in China)

This year, LVMH created a glamorous exhibition area at the CIIE. As a representative of international high-end brands, LVMH is also a beneficiary of China’s accession to the WTO, commented Andrew Yue Wu, LVMH Greater China president. After 2001, international high-end brands were able to obtain direct retail operating licenses in China. They have long-term plans to expand their business in China with legal recognition. Rooted in the market, they have made investments in employees, established companies, created upgrades in shopping malls, and incubated and affected surrounding industries, to bring a fresh new look to Chinese cities and promote the growth of China’s domestic consumer market. Therefore, at the fourth CIIE, the company sends its congratulations for the 20th anniversary of China’s entry into the WTO. “We shall promote the spirit of the CIIE and pay tribute to China's continued reform and opening up!” said Wu.   

(Andrew Yue Wu, LVMH Greater China president)