(Yicai Global) Feb. 21 -- Staff working to prepare for the third China International Import Expo scheduled for November in Shanghai have been avoiding personal contact while making more use of phones, video conferences and emails due to the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Staff have been on duty since Jan. 31, processing contracts for nearly 100 participants by collecting information, coordinating and communicating online, according to the National Exhibition and Convention Center Shanghai's exhibition department, the expo's organizer. The contracted exhibition area totals more than 10,000 square meters so far, it added.

"We extended our regards to nearly 300 companies via WeChat, emails, phone calls and video conferences since we are in quarantine," said Lu Peng, an employee at the department, adding that companies were asked about the epidemic's impact on their contract signing and preparations to participate in the expo. "We will follow up and push them to sign."

The impact of this non-contact mode on the overall work has not been significant, and the focus is to communicate, invite and provide services to buyers for the third CIIE based on feedback, according to the CIIE Bureau's invitations department. The work is proceeding methodically, it added.

The CIIE Bureau division that oversees the expo's Hongqiao International Economic Forum has also been communicating with firms via phone calls, promoting its membership service and working out this year's plans.

Editor: Peter Thomas