SHANGHAI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- From New Zealand alpaca fiber processed in China to Thai beverages tailored for Chinese consumers, businesses across the Asia-Pacific are forging closer industrial ties at the ongoing China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, extending cooperation beyond trade in goods to encompass manufacturing, innovation and supply chains.
The ninth edition of the expo comes as China prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen later this month, with openness, innovation and cooperation identified as the three priority areas for this year's APEC cooperation.
Strong participation by businesses from APEC economies underscores the appeal of China's vast market. Canadian and New Zealand exhibitors occupied their largest exhibition areas in the CIIE's history this year. Australian companies expanded their exhibition space by 25 percent from last year. Meanwhile, U.S. exhibitors retained the largest exhibition area for the eighth consecutive edition.
Since its launch in 2018, the CIIE has evolved into a major platform for international trade and investment, with cumulative intended deals exceeding 580 billion U.S. dollars over its first eight editions and more than 3,400 new products, technologies and services making their debuts.
For New Zealand-based Pacific Alpacas, the journey from a small exhibition booth to a cross-border supply chain illustrates how market access can lead to deeper industrial collaboration.
After selling out its alpaca quilts during its CIIE debut in 2021, the company shipped 3.3 tonnes of alpaca fiber to China for processing in 2022, tapping into Chinese manufacturing expertise before establishing long-term partnerships with Chinese e-commerce platforms in 2025.
Through the expo, the company also forged partnerships with a textile mill in east China's Jiangsu Province that helped improve the quality of its quilts, and a marketing agency in Shandong Province that helped it expand into livestream commerce.
"What matters more is the spillover effect," Hu Tao, director of Pacific Alpacas, told Xinhua, referring to the business opportunities generated beyond the six-day expo.
Beyond traditional merchandise trade, multinational companies are increasingly integrating China's manufacturing strengths and innovation capabilities into their regional and global operations.
Japanese electronics giant Panasonic, a nine-time CIIE participant, is advancing its strategy from "China for China" to "China for Global," leveraging a network of more than 3,000 suppliers in China to strengthen its research, development and supply chain capabilities.
"We roll out innovative products and supply chain capabilities developed in China worldwide," said Masaharu Nakayama, an executive officer of Panasonic Holdings Corporation, describing the company's "Innovate in China, Deploy Globally" model.
For Thailand's TCP Group, the company behind the Red Bull brand, regional cooperation is also taking shape through localized product innovation and long-term manufacturing investment.
Its new vitamin electrolyte beverage for Chinese consumers draws on a product concept developed in Thailand, with flavors tailored to local preferences and the product developed and manufactured by its China-based teams in collaboration with local supply chain partners.
The company's production bases in China's Sichuan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have further deepened its integration into China's industrial and supply chains, while the CIIE provides opportunities to gauge market response to new products and connect with business partners, according to the company.
Greater connectivity is also opening doors for smaller businesses, including Malaysian agricultural producers showcasing tropical fruits such as Musang King and Black Thorn durians at the expo to connect with Chinese buyers.
In 2025, APEC's 21 member economies were home to 3 billion people and accounted for 61.6 percent of global real GDP, according to official APEC statistics.
Ng Yih Pyng, president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, said he expects the upcoming APEC CEO Summit to help promote smoother trade and economic flows, deeper industrial cooperation and more tangible business opportunities for companies across the region.
For Thai businesses, the CIIE offers a gateway to the Chinese market, helping smaller firms find customers and test business models while enabling larger companies to deepen cooperation, said Paijit Viboontanasarn, vice chairman and secretary general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in China.
"There are many forms of cooperation. It is not just about finding importers," he said, adding that the expo helps companies build brands, connect with online and offline sales channels, and explore different partnerships. ■
