(Xinhua/Ding Ting)
by Xinhua writer Liu Hongxia
BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China is both a major source of products and innovation and a highly significant market for international companies, Peter Ottmann, CEO of Germany's NuernbergMesse Group, said in a recent interview with Xinhua, adding that "these two roles belong together."
Ottmann is leading a business delegation from NuernbergMesse Group, a major player in the international trade fair industry, to the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE), scheduled to take place from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai in east China.
"Our debut at CIIE this year comes at a particularly meaningful moment: NuernbergMesse is celebrating 20 years in the Chinese market, where we established our first overseas subsidiary," Ottmann told Xinhua.
Headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany, NuernbergMesse Group has 15 subsidiaries and affiliated companies in countries including Austria, Italy, China and India, as well as a network of exhibition representatives spanning more than 100 countries and regions. The group organizes over 150 trade fairs and exhibitions worldwide each year.
Through its participation in Shanghai, the group aims to strengthen connections between Chinese and international industries, help Chinese enterprises expand into overseas markets, facilitate the introduction of international industry resources into China, and promote two-way trade and economic cooperation.
"CIIE gives us an excellent platform to present the NuernbergMesse Group, our international network, and our refreshed global brand appearance directly to China," Ottmann said.
For trade fair organizers like NuernbergMesse, openness and free trade are not merely abstract principles, but lie at the heart of business, Ottmann said. "Sustainable trade requires opportunities in both directions. We and our exhibitors around the world therefore depend on open markets, fair access and reliable conditions for international business."
Noting that Chinese companies are playing increasingly important roles in trade fairs, Ottmann said he is impressed by their international ambition, entrepreneurial energy and strong focus on tangible business results.
"Chinese companies do not simply want visibility abroad. They want access to the right customers, partners, technologies and industry communities. They also value practical support throughout the process," he said.
"We expect CIIE to be an intensive opportunity to listen, connect and learn. We want to strengthen existing relationships, meet new Chinese companies, and demonstrate how NuernbergMesse Group can support their international growth through relevant trade fairs, industry communities and personal guidance," Ottmann said. ■
