In the morning on April 15, the opening ceremony of the 101st session of China Import and Export Commodity Fair opened in Pazhou complex. 314 entrepreneurs from 36 countries and regions splendidly showed in the exhibition hall in Pazhou Complex, which occupied 10,000 square meters of the exhibition space, and welcomed purchasers from China and the world. Lu Hao, Secretary of Gangsu CPC Provincial Committee, Huang Huahua, Governor of Guangdong Province, Xu Shousheng, Governor of Gangsu Province, Gao Hucheng, Vice Minister of Commerce, relevant heads from ministries, provinces and municipalities, officials from Liaison Offices of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong and Macao, ambassadors of foreign counties' to China and officials of foreign Consulate General in Guangzhou were present at the opening ceremony.

On the occasion, Huang Huahua, Director of Canton Fair and Governor of Guangdong Province announced the opening of the import section. Gao Hucheng, Vice Director of Canton Fair and Vice Minister of Commerce delivered a speech. Gao said that Premier Wen Jiaobao announced on the 101st session of Canton Fair in Nov. 2006 that the name of the fair changed into China Import and Export Commodity Fair starting from the 101st session. In order to coordinate domestic development and opening up, keep promoting levels of opening up, Chinese government changed Canton Fair from a one-way platform of promoting import and export to a two-way platform of boosting trade coordinative development. It fully showed sincerity and endeavor that Chinese government made to improve trade balance.

Gao expressed that import function added by Canton Fair no doubt provided opportunities for more overseas enterprises in understanding and entering China's market deeply. At the same period, it would provide more diversified choices to China's consumers. Canton Fair welcomed overseas products which met the need of China's market and diversified need of China's consumers. It would keep striving to improve service, enlarging IPR protection and creating a trading environment with fair competition.

Mme. Shaikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE's Minister of Economy delivered a speech on the ceremony. Representatives of the participating enterprises from German and Zambian import sections made speeches.

Gao Hucheng met Mme. Shaikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi and her party, and foreign ambassadors and counselors to China.

(Source: Chinese Version of MOFCOM)

(Translated by Network Center of MOFCOM)