Around 35,000 visitors to descend on 80,000-sq-m venue to see new tech, Tang Zhihao reports.

The 2017 China Import Expo, a national-level import products trading event in China, will be held in Kunshan in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, from May 17 to 19.

This year's expo will focus on providing solutions and products for smart manufacturing and the consumer goods industries, according to the event's organizers.

The fair, first established in 2013, has reported significant growth in terms of exhibition area and the number of visitors over the past four years.

In 2017, the exhibition area will reach 80,000 square meters, compared to 60,000 sq m in 2013.

More than 700 domestic and foreign exhibitors will display their latest technologies and products to more than 35,000 professionals and visitors at the three-day event, said the organizers.

Businesses from countries and regions including the United States, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, Australia, South Africa, Italy, Brazil and Vietnam will attend the expo.

The audiences mainly comprise companies' decision-makers, technological engineers, import and export traders and retailers.

Professional services and strong supporting programs are key elements that have supported the fair's growth over the past few years, according to the organizers.

The trading fair has become a key new products launching platform in China for manufacturing businesses.

At this year's trade show, four robotic companies - HIT Robot Group, Suzhou Pangolin Robot, Suzhou Three To Universe Robotic Technology and Teinyo Medical Robot - will introduce their latest robotic products to serve commercial, medical and eldercare demands.

HIT Robot Group, formed in 2014 with investment from Heilongjiang provincial government, Harbin city government and Harbin Institute of Technology, has become a key player in China's robotics industry.

In 2017, there will be a display zone for environmental protection businesses in response to Jiangsu province's latest environmental protection action plans. Businesses such as the South-Korea-based Turbowin and Zhejiang-based Nano Tech will bring their latest solutions to buyers.

There will also be a demonstration zone for finance-leasing businesses. Buyers at the expo are encouraged to use these services to upgrade their production facilities and technologies.

The newly established financial leasing zone in this year's China Import Expo will also help to strengthen the trading function of the event, said the event organizers.

Forums in focus

Supporting programs will again be a highlight of the 2017 expo.

The sixth World Business Leaders (Kunshan) Conference and the third Forum on Sino-US Cooperation in Energy-Saving and Environmental Protection will be held on May 17.

The sixth World Business Leaders (Kunshan) Conference will be a platform for global business leaders and government officials to discuss the new challenges and opportunities in the global trading and investment sectors.

Event organizers revealed that Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization Yi Xiaozhun, Vice-President of the Development Research Center of the State Council Long Guoqiang and President of Duke University Richard H. Brodhead will share their opinions on the new global business trends during the conference.

The Sino-US environmental forum will be a platform for industrial experts to discuss the latest issues and challenges in China's environmental protection industry.

Major topics at the forum include smog treatment and solid waste treatment. There will be one-on-one meetings for Chinese and US businesses so they can discuss more details about their projects.

During this year's event, there will be several matchmaking events to connect buyers with exhibitors in businesses such as automation, spare parts and e-commerce on May 17.

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(China Daily 05/12/2017 page20)