(Yicai Global) Jan. 28 -- Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong has vowed to make the second China International Import Expo, scheduled for November, better than last year's event.

He made the comments while delivering the government work report at the annual session of the Municipal People's Congress in the eastern Chinese city. Ying aims to make the event happen on a regular basis.

The inaugural expo, which took place from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10, played host to deals worth a total of USD57.8 billion. It attracted 3,617 foreign exhibitors, and more than 400,000 buyers from home and abroad.

The city aims to boost opening-up efforts for foreign investment and overseas firms to amplify the expo's spillover effects. Shanghai will put into practice 100 measures in support of further opening--up this year.

More than 500 companies from more than 40 countries and regions have already confirmed their participation in the 2019 CIIE, according to the local bureau responsible. These include more than 70 Fortune Global 500 firms and leading enterprises across a range of industries.

Editor: William Clegg