(Yicai) Nov. 11 -- The eighth China International Import Expo in Shanghai has ended with a record USD83.5 billion worth of intended transactions signed at the six-day trade fair, up 4.4 percent from a year earlier.

This year's CIIE, which ended yesterday, saw the number of visitors jump 8.2 percent to 922,000, while attracting over 4,100 overseas businesses to a more than 430,000-square-meter exhibition space, all new records. 

"The debut function at the CIIE was enhanced, with 461 new products, technologies, and services released at the expo this year," Wu Zhengping, chairman of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), said at a press briefing for the closing of the event.

Some 201 exhibits made their global, 65 their Asia, and 195 their China debuts at the latest expo, covering emerging industries, including biomedicine, green and low-carbon, artificial intelligence, and humanoid robots, Wu pointed out.

The world's "fastest" non-invasive physical examination equipment, the "smallest" X-ray machine, and the "lightest" large foldable screen smartphone all debuted at this year's CIIE, Wu said, adding that this helps China's vast market become a testing ground, application hub, and profit center for global innovation.

In addition, the Hongqiao International Economic Forum was held during the CIIE under the theme "Opening Up for New Opportunities, Collaborating for a Shared Future," featuring one main session, 25 sub-forums, and several closed-door meetings. Over 400 authoritative guests from the political, business, and academic circles took part in discussions, including eight Nobel laureates and some top scholars.

The CIIE sends a clear signal to the world that China is not only a big consumer market, but also a willing partner that seeks mutual benefit and shares success through institutional innovation, Wu noted.

"The CIIE is a major decision made by China to promote a new round of high-standard opening up and a key initiative to proactively open its market to the world," Zhu Hong, vice president of Accenture and chairwoman of its country arm, said in an interview with Yicai. It allows people to experience how a China committed to openness and win-win cooperation is setting an example for inclusive global growth, she added.

The National Exhibition and Convention Center will also host the first CIIE Premium Products Fair from Dec. 19 to 21 to help more "quality products from the CIIE" reach millions of Chinese households, according to Wu.

Preparations for the ninth CIIE next year have been fully launched, with the contracted exhibition area for the enterprise exhibition exceeding 80,000 square meters, Wu pointed out.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev