A promotional event for the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in Prague, which confirmed the growing interest of Czech companies in the Chinese market and indicated new impulses in mutual economic relations. A key moment was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and the organisers of the fair, reported iportaL24.cz.
The Memorandum was signed by the Vice President of the Confederation of Industry and Transport František Chaloupecký and the Deputy Director of the CIIE Office Ge Hong. The document is intended to open up new opportunities for the involvement of Czech companies in the Chinese market and to strengthen trade ties between the Czech Republic and China.
According to Chaloupecký, Czech-Chinese cooperation is based primarily on a strong business foundation. „We have long been dedicated to supporting Czech companies in their trade and investment activities with Chinese partners,“ he said. He reminded that the Confederation of Industry and Transport has more than 11 thousand members.
After the pandemic, business missions are also starting up again. „We renewed them in 2024 and we want to develop them further. We see room for new opportunities here,“ He added.
He said the signing of the memorandum represents a concrete step towards further results. „We are open to further expanding our cooperation with Chinese partners,“ he stressed.
Chinese Ambassador Feng Biao recalled the long-term stability of trade relations between the two countries. „The volume of bilateral trade will reach approximately $44.3 billion in 2025,“ he said.
According to him, there is still significant growth potential. „We urge Czech businesses to take advantage of the opportunities the Chinese market offers and bring more quality products to Chinese consumers,“ He said.
CIIE as a key gateway to the Chinese market
China International Import Expo is one of the most important tools for foreign companies to enter the Chinese market. According to Ge Hong, deputy director of the CIIE Bureau, it is a unique platform at the national level without equal. „China International Import Expo has become an important platform for countries from all over the world, including the Czech Republic, to enter the Chinese market,“ he stated.
The fair has been held annually since 2018 in Shanghai and is the first major international trade fair focused exclusively on imports. It aims to open the Chinese market to foreign companies and strengthen global trade cooperation.
According to Ge Hong, the CIIE stands on four pillars - international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchange and open cooperation. „The fair has become an important platform for promoting openness and shared global development,“ he said.
Thousands of companies from all over the world as well as top officials of the Chinese government participate in the fair every year. The event connects the business and public sectors and creates space for new business opportunities.
The Czech Republic is one of the stable participants. Czech companies have been presenting a wide range of products here for a long time - from industrial technologies and energy to traditional products such as beer or glass.
China remains the second largest import market in the world. „In 2025, the import volume will reach 18.5 trillion yuan, and during the first eight editions of the fair, the volume of contracts concluded exceeded 580 billion dollars,“ Ge Hong added.
Moreover, the fair actively helps companies to establish themselves on the Chinese market. „We organise promotional events across China, meetings with buyers and cross-border e-commerce platforms to help connect supply and demand effectively,“ said according to iportaL24.cz. Media support and the global reach of the event also play an important role.
A pragmatic return to economic cooperation
From the Czech side, the emphasis is on practical economic cooperation. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Sechter reminded that the Czech Republic has been participating in the fair since 2018, often at the highest level. „We see the fair as a platform for dialogue, trust and the development of economic relations,“ Sechter said.
According to him, the aim is mainly to strengthen trade cooperation and establish new partnerships. „We want to build business cooperation, establish new partnerships and use this platform to develop them further,“ He added.
At the same time, he admitted that Czech-Chinese relations in recent years have also been influenced by political factors. „Rather, we are trying to return to a pragmatic approach and focus on concrete results,“ he said.
One of the concrete steps is the effort to restore direct air links with Shanghai. „Without a direct air link, business development is significantly more difficult,“ He pointed out.
Experience of companies: the CIIE as an effective tool for expansion
Representative of the CzechTrade Agency Ales Cervinka described the practical benefits of the fair for Czech companies. „Czech companies use the fair as a unique platform for entering the Chinese market, testing their products and getting direct feedback from customers,“ he said.
According to him, Czech companies have been participating in the CIIE continuously since 2018. „We have worked with dozens of Czech companies across all sectors and gradually a group of companies has emerged that participate in the fair repeatedly,“ he approached. The most common sectors are food and beverages, glass, engineering and modern technology.
The great advantage of the fair is its scope and international importance. „This is one of the largest import events in the world on a national level, allowing companies to reach not only end customers, but also business partners, distributors and investors,“ he said.
Marketing support and media visibility play a crucial role. „With extensive coverage, including online broadcasts and livestreaming directly from the stands, companies have the opportunity to significantly increase their brand awareness in the Chinese market,“ He added.
Companies also get immediate feedback from the market. „They get instant feedback, can analyze the competition and adjust their strategy for entering the Chinese market,“ he explained.
The fair also includes conferences, seminars and national presentations, which further expand the opportunities for business networking.
The Prague event thus confirmed that despite political fluctuations, economic cooperation between the Czech Republic and China remains stable and oriented towards concrete results.
The signing of the memorandum, the renewed business missions and the emphasis on a pragmatic approach show that both sides are looking for new ways to strengthen trade relations.
The China International Import Expo thus remains one of the key tools to turn these ambitions into real business opportunities.
iportaL24.cz/gnews.cz - GH
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