(Yicai) Oct. 23 -- A record high number of executives from leading international businesses are set to attend the sixth China International Import Expo next month, Commerce Vice Minister Sheng Qiuping said.

More than 100 top executives from Fortune 500 companies and leading enterprises have confirmed that they will attend the five-day expo that starts in Shanghai on Nov. 5, Sheng said at a press conference today.

This year’s CIIE is expected to welcome guests from 154 countries, regions, and international organizations, with 289 Fortune 500 and leading companies set to take part, according to the ministry.

Over 3,400 exhibitors and 394,000 trade visitors have registered, returning to the event to pre-pandemic levels. Participants from 34 countries who had previously appeared only online will be coming in person this year for the first time.

The exhibition area has increased to about 367,000 square meters, with pavilions for different countries. China’s pavilion has grown to cover 2,500 sqm, the most ever.

This year’s CIIE will also hold important activities such as the “Invest in China Year” summit, as well as a roundtable meeting for foreign-funded enterprises, and the release of the World Openness Report 2023 and the latest World Openness Index.

There are also plans for 124 supporting on-site activities, including meetings on policy interpretation, trade matchmaking, investment promotion, and research results.

Editor: Tom Litting