DEALS for intended one-year purchases of goods and services worth a total of US$57.83 billion were reached at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE), which concluded Saturday in Shanghai, official data showed.

A total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations, and more than 3,600 enterprises participated in the six-day event, which attracted more than 400,000 domestic and overseas purchasers, Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the CIIE Bureau, told a news conference.

Deals for high-end intelligent equipment reached over US$16.46 billion, followed by US$12.68 billion of food and agricultural products, US$11.99 billion of automobiles, US$5.76 billion of medical equipment and health care products, US$4.33 billion of consumer electronics and appliances, and US$3.37 billion of apparel, accessories and consumer goods, Sun said, adding that the value of deals for services hit US$3.24 billion.

Intended purchases with Belt and Road partner countries reached US$4.72 billion, Sun said.

A total of 71 pavilions were set up in the national exhibition by 82 countries (including China) and three international organizations — the World Trade Organization, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and International Trade Center.

The pavilions of the 12 host countries and other participating countries all had distinctive styles highlighting their own characteristics, and made full use of technology to display their unique regional cultures and advantageous industries, covering trade in goods and services, industrial conditions, investment and tourism, as well as products with unique features.

The 1,500-square-meter China Pavilion, with an area of about 1,500 square meters, took the new development concept of “innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing” as the main thread to display the achievements of China’s reform and opening up and the new opportunities it has brought to the world.

At the first Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum, an important part of the CIIE, over 40 leaders of relevant countries and regions, distinguished guests of industries and academia, and people in charge of international organizations, had discussions about stimulating new vitality in global trade, and more than 2,400 government representatives, exhibitors, purchasers and business representatives from relevant countries and regions attended the forum.

President Xi Jinping put forward higher standards and requirements for better hosting the expo in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, stressing that “the CIIE, an event to be held on an annual basis, will feature good performance, good results and continued success in the years to come.”

“We will review our experiences from all angles and also learn from the international first-class expo, to further promote the CIIE to be more international, professional, market-based and branded,” Sun said. (SD-Xinhua)