(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 yesterday to help participating companies improve their mutual exchanges and cooperation.

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

Participants either previewed their exhibits or expressed their buying needs at the meeting.

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

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

The auto exhibition zone event, which targeted the market development needs of vehicle and auto parts exhibitors, organized several representative auto exhibitors to promote on-site exhibits and release information with, e.g. the display of a 'flying car' developed by a Slovak firm becoming the 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 gaining more 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 imports and exports have come to occupy a 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, told Yicai Global in an interview.

Editor: Ben Armour