(Yicai Global) Aug. 31 -- The first China International Import Expo, which will start in Shanghai in November this year, held two pre-show supply and demand matchmaking events yesterdayto help participating companies improve their mutual exchanges and cooperation.

More than 200 auto and service trade exhibitors and potential buyers participated in theseactivities.

Participants either previewed their exhibits or expressed their buyingneeds at the meeting.

More than 20 brands, among themHSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Japan's Itochu, Deloitte, Switzerland's SGS, US Federal Express, and Wan Hai Lines from Taiwan engaged incooperativeand exchange activities with nearly 90 counterpart buyers.

The matchmaking event brought inmanyrepresentatives to announce their procurement needs. Suppliers and buyers also conducted a trend analysis and policy interpretation ofthe development of China's service trade market. The presentations of Deloitte China, Sinopharm Group, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and Alibaba Group Holding received positivefeedback from those present.

The auto exhibition zoneevent, which targetedthe market development needs of vehicle and auto parts exhibitors, organized severalrepresentative auto exhibitors to promoteon-site exhibits and release informationwith, e.g.the display ofa 'flying car'developed by a Slovak firm becomingthe focus of attention.

The import fair provides a broad, open and efficient platform for exchanges and cooperation.Expectations are rife for the upcoming event and hopes abound of gainingmore business opportunities at the fair, the exhibitors and buyers who participated in the two events told Yicai Global.

"China has developed very fast in recent years. Both its importsand exportshave come to occupya very important position in world trade. I believe that both manufacturers and suppliers are really very optimistic about China's import trade market," Zhang Xiongwei, regional director of a Shanghai-based international freight firm, toldYicai Globalin an interview.

Editor: Ben Armour