(Yicai Global) Nov. 10 -- Executives at 13 multinational companies including Dow Chemical, Xylem Analytics, and Novo Nordisk, have expressed their confidence in the Chinese market amid the third China International Import Expo.

The business leaders joined an online conference on the sidelines of the ongoing expo as traveling has become more difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“China is a market with the fastest growth for our business, and our investment will only increase,” said Damian Roach, emerging markets director at Xylem Analytics. The US-headquartered water-quality instruments maker is looking to cooperate with local governments and companies and localize production to tap into emerging markets.

"It is part of our strategy to invest even more in developing innovative medicines for China," said Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, CEO of pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk. The Danish firm, mostly known for its diabetes care products, penned a deal to invest up to CNY200 million (USD30.4 million) in Shanghai's Lingang Special Area. It is also planning to cooperate with Microsoft China to launch a Chinese-speaking AI chatbot.

Dow has established from 50 to 60 new valuable customer contacts at the expo, its third, said Jon Penrice, president of Dow Asia Pacific. Contacts from different industries can spur innovation opportunities, he added. The chemicals company is expanding its research and development efforts in China, its second-largest market.

Real estate service provider CBRE Group’s customer base in China has not changed substantially despite the trade frictions between the US and China, said Ben Duncan, CBRE's China chief executive. “The Chinese market welcomes us and our customers.” The Los Angeles-headquartered firm, which is participating in the CIIE for the first time this year, has been expanding its investment in China gradually over the past 18 months.

Mikhael Mirilashvili, chairman of BIE Group, the parent firm of Israeli water technology company Watergen, was lauding the 2019 event. “I was incredibly impressed by the proceedings last year, which highlighted the role of global leadership and responsibility that China has taken to develop solutions for humanity. The event was an incredible testament to the country's bright future, both internally and on the global stage.”

Editor: Emmi Laine