Two seminars aiming to help French enterprises better understand the upcoming 9th edition of the China International Import Expo, or CIIE, and share opportunities presented by China's deepening opening-up, were held last week in the French cities of Paris and Lyon.
According to Hua Wei, president of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), which is the host venue of CIIE, the previous expo saw participation from 114 French companies, harvesting good sales in areas such as agricultural and food products, consumer goods, and service trade.
"The CIIE has become an important bridge connecting enterprises from both countries and promoting practical cooperation," said Hua.
Dai Junpeng, counselor of the economic and commercial office of the Chinese embassy in France, pointed out that the continuous upgrade of consumption patterns of China's 1.4 billion people has led to a strong demand for high-quality imported goods. Additionally, China's manufacturing sector's transition towards high-end, intelligent, and green production has also created a need for new technological equipment.
Taking French linen as an example, Dai said with the rising demand for natural and environmentally-friendly fabrics among Chinese consumers, in the first five months of 2026 French linen exports to China grew by 47.3 percent year-on-year.
