Global economic recovery and peace highlight the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai City, People’s Republic of China, with Filipino farmers and food companies showcasing Philippine food products.
The world’s biggest import fair—started on Nov. 5 and ending on Nov. 10—is a refreshing development amid the economically destabilizing effects of the Israel-Gaza war, Ukraine-Russia conflict, retrogressive protectionist policies, and recent sea territorial disagreements between the Philippines and China.
With an over 1,000-year history of uninterrupted bilateral trade, the Philippines actively engaged in the CIIE at the gigantic National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.
Observers said that the common geo-economic interests of PHL and China as trade partners help the two countries in overcoming their differences.
The CIIE and the parallel Hongqiao International Economic Forum promote global economic development, stability and harmony via increased trade with China, the world’s No. 2 biggest economy.
Started in 2018, the CIIE likewise promotes peace by facilitating more international interactions, economic interdependence and goodwill among nations.
FILIPINO FLAVORS
Filipino private companies and national government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) shall showcase Philippine-made food products and Filipino food culture under the theme “FOODPhilippines: Share the Love for Filipino Flavors” in the Philippine Pavilion.
Aside from the Philippines, the United States of America (USA) is officially attending for the first time the CIIE, showing that trade can overcome political differences.
The US participation in the CIIE is led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Shanghai. Both USDA and AmCham Shanghai shall co-host the American Food and Agriculture Pavilion.
Newspapers like the China Daily said the US participation “shows agriculture trade is a ballast.” The Global Times regarded the US presence in the CIIE as the “latest sign of stabilizing ties,” and serves as an example of how trade can positively overcome political or geopolitical differences.
The “liberal peace” view through mutual economic interdependence and robust trade among nations was first articulated by German philosopher Immanuel Kant, Nobel Peace Prize-winning British author Norman Angell and Austrian political economist Joseph Schumpeter.
WIN-WIN FREE TRADE
The CIIE exemplifies the ideals of progressive, win-win free trade and forward-looking globalization which open opportunities for increased international exchanges, dialogues, genuine healthy competition and cooperation.
In stark contrast, the nefarious effects of reactionary protectionism and obdurate trade wars include internecine conflicts between nations, distrust across continents, socio-economic stagnation, enmity and disorder.
For all participating countries and regions, the CIIE is a golden opportunity and unparalleled platform for enhancing inter-trade between and among countries or territories. It opens diverse exports and even tourism attractions to the vast Chinese market.
Apart from the increasingly affluent Chinese consumers, guests from 154 countries, regions and international organizations are expected to attend and visit over 3,400 exhibitors at the CIIE. 410,000 professional visitors have already registered.
KING OF FRUITS
One example of the numerous products at the CIIE shall be Southeast Asia’s “king of fruits” the durian, which the Philippine Pavilion will showcase.
The first batch of the Philippines’ fresh durian exports to China totaled 72 tons and valued at $150 million, but China’s consumers still want to buy more.
Southern Philippines’ traders and farmers said the country’s durian supply couldn’t satisfy China’s burgeoning demand for the product.
From January to June 2023, China had imported 787,000 metric tons of durian worth $3.83 billion, mostly sourced from the Philippines’ Asean neighbors and competitors Thailand and Vietnam. HSBC reported that global demand for durians “soared 400%” due mainly to the popularity of this fruit in China, which is the world’s biggest importer and consumer of durian in 2022.
China last year accounted for an amazing 82% of total global consumption of durians. CNBC reported that sharing durians as exotic and high-level gifts have come to showcase the givers’ wealth in China. Durian is just one of the golden opportunities in CIIE for ASEAN countries.
RETURN OF IN-PERSON EXHIBITION
Another significance of this year’s 6th CIIE is its resumption of offline country exhibition—the first complete return to in-person exhibitions since the global pandemic—with 3,000 global companies participating.
Expectations are high that the CIIE shall be a catalyst to boost Asia’s post-pandemic economic recovery momentum. It will further strengthen China’s continuous, high-tech and green or ecological economic opening up and modernization.
Filipino farmers participating in the CIIE expressed their optimism and positive outlook that global trade will help spur economic development, peace, and the goal of common prosperity.