The third edition of China International Import Expo, which was held amid the global pandemic in November, was the largest expo held offline in the world last year, said Shanghai mayor Gong Zheng.

"We have confidence that we can continue to make the CIIE a safe and successful expo in the years to come," Gong said at a news conference after the conclusion of the annual session of the municipal people's congress.

"The expo has been highly recognized by businesspeople around the world, as more companies have brought their new products and technologies to showcase at the expo," he said, adding that many exhibitors have already signed up for this year's expo, and some have even reserved their spots for the next three editions.

Last year's third edition of the expo spanned 360,000 square meters, an increase of 30,000 square meters over its second edition. Intended deals inked at the expo amounted to $72.6 billion, up 2.1 percent year-on-year.

Gong said it is important to further enhance the expo's role as a platform for the country's dual circulation strategy and expand its spillover effect.

"We will work to build the expo into a platform for international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchange and open cooperation," Gong said. "Companies from across the world are all welcomed to share the country's growth at the fourth edition of CIIE this year."

Source: China International Import Expo Bureau