Cypriot products are seeking a place in the Chinese market at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, where the Cyprus pavilion is showcasing food and drinks.
Cyprus’s ambassador to China, Koula Sofianou, told Phileleftheros the government’s message was that the island combines an open economy, a strong services sector, quality products and a growing technology ecosystem.
The ninth CIIE, held since 2018 and the country’s largest import fair, is running from 5 to 10 November with 4,142 foreign companies taking part.
A delegation from the Cyprus Information Technology Enterprises Association (CITEA), led by its president, Giorgos Malekkos, is also in Shanghai this year. Sofianou said its presence offered another opportunity to showcase Cyprus’s information and communications technology sector and explore partnerships with Chinese companies.
She also thanked Chinese businesspeople for promoting Cypriot products in China.
China rejects ‘strangling’ accusations
Opening the expo, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang rejected accusations that China was strangling other economies. “Such claims are completely unfounded,” he said.
He said China would continue to create favourable conditions for companies from around the world to expand their operations in the country.
His speech focused on four areas: expanding trade opportunities by making use of China’s large market, deepening investment cooperation, boosting innovation, and promoting mutual understanding and trust to remove trade barriers.
