SHANGHAI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The sixth edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai on Sunday. This year's expo, scheduled from Nov. 5 to 10, has set a new record with 289 Global Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders in attendance. Over 3,400 exhibitors and 394,000 professional visitors registered for the event, a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels. Ali Faiz is one of them.
Ali Faiz (C) recommends Afghan food and agricultural products to visitors at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
Ali Faiz (L) introduces a piece of Afghan jewelry to a visitor at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
Ali Faiz came to China as an international student in 2014 and graduated from University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2019. After graduation, Faiz decided to stay in China as a merchant to introduce more specialty products of Afghanistan to the Chinese market.
Visitors are attracted by Afghan food and agricultural products at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
An Afghan pomegranate is displayed at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
It is the fourth time Faiz has participated in the expo since his first attendance in 2020 when he brought the handmade wool carpet, a specialty product of Afghanistan. The expo helped him obtain over 2,000 orders of carpets, which meant incomes for more than 2,000 local families for an entire year.
Ali Faiz (R) introduces Afghan carpets to a visitor at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
Ali Faiz (1st L) introduces Afghan carpets to visitors at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
Ali Faiz (1st L) poses for a group photo at the opening ceremony of Greenland Global Food Pavilion and the launch of new products with national specialties during the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
With his booth growing bigger and bigger and his exhibits becoming more and more diversified over these years in the expos, Faiz hopes to bring more Afghan products to China in the future.
"The CIIE provides us with a valuable window of opportunity, so we can integrate into economic globalization and enjoy its benefits like those in more developed regions," he said.
Ali Faiz (L) and his employee use a cart to carry carpets at the Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
Ali Faiz (rear) talks with an employee at the Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
Ali Faiz (L) discusses the details of an order with an employee at the Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
