CIIE offers platform to boost Sino-Argentinean trade

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) provides an efficient and quality platform for Argentine products to enter the Chinese market, said Xia Diya, commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Argentina.

Following stops in Dominican Republic, Uruguay and the United States, the CIIE roadshow landed in Argentina to promote next year's edition of the expo.

Argentine beef, wine and other products have proved to be a hit at the expo, said Xia, adding that Argentine exports to China increased by 83 percent in the first 10 months of this year largely due to the CIIE.

At present, Argentina is China's sixth largest trading partner in Latin America, while China is Argentina's largest exporter of agricultural products and the second largest trading partner in the world.

Tang Guifa, president of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), extended a warm welcome during the roadshow to Argentine enterprises to tap into China's population of nearly 1.4 billion.

Ulises Forte, president of the Institute for Promotion of Argentine Beef (IPCVA), was one of the Argentine exhibitors at the second edition of the CIIE held earlier in November.

China's economy will inject greater impetus into Argentina's social and economic development as well as deepen bilateral relations, said Forte, adding that IPCVA will organize more enterprises to participate in the third edition.

During the event, the CIIE bureau signed a cooperative MoU with IPCVA.

After Argentina, the delegation will continue with its overseas roadshows in countries including Costa Rica, Cuba, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Spain and Belarus.

Held from Nov 5 to 10, the second CIIE drew over 3,800 enterprises from 181 countries, regions and international organizations, with intended deals for one-year purchases of goods and services topping $71.13 billion, a sharp rise as compared to last year.