(Yicai) Nov. 6 -- Some executives of foreign companies who have been attending the China International Import Expo for six straight years said at this year's event that they have been witnessing China's increasingly stronger signs of opening up.

Despite many challenges, Danone has been pleasantly surprised to see China's economic resilience in recent years, said Bruno Chevot, president of Danone China, North Asia, and Oceania.

Danone is convinced that under the new development pattern of opening up, the Chinese economy will usher in a new round of high-quality development, which will have a positive impact on world economic cooperation and trade development, as well as provide steady opportunities for foreign enterprises in China, Chevot added.

Leon Wang, executive vice president and president of International Business and China of UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, said that through the CIIE, he deeply felt the signal of China's commitment to opening up to other parts of the world and continued support for economic globalization, recognizing China's role as a responsible major country.

On the first day of the CIIE, AstraZeneca announced an investment of nearly USD400 million in Wuxi, China's Jiangsu province, to introduce continuous direct compression and sustainable packaging production lines. It also signed an investment cooperation agreement with the Taizhou Pharmaceutical High-tech Zone on its Xigduo XR extended-release tablets and inked several contracts with Shandong province.

The CIIE demonstrates China's determination and sincerity to carry out high-level opening-up and work together with foreign parties for win-win results, as well as the country's unwavering commitment to sharing opportunities with the world, said Shan Guohong, senior VP of Takeda Pharmaceuticals and president of Takeda China.

Takeda will continue to increase its investment in China, Shan added. Since 2020, more than 10 innovative drugs and breakthrough indications the Japanese firm showcased at the CIIE have been approved for marketing in China. Moreover, seven innovative products of Takeda have been included in China's medical insurance list in the period.

Over the past six years, the CIIE has been a key milestone and an important stage for L'Oréal's open innovation ecosystem, which has doubled in size in the past five years, said Fabrice Megarbane, president of L'Oréal North Asia and chief executive officer of L'Oréal China.

"At the scene, we deeply felt China's determination to open up and the economic benefits of the CIIE for the whole world," said Zhang Yan, president of Brother China. The company has witnessed the CIIE improving over the past six years and always believed that China is the market with the most potential in the world, Zhang noted.

About 200 companies have signed up to participate in the CIIE for six consecutive years.

Editor: Futura Costaglione