(Yicai Global) Sept. 16 -- Over 120 UK companies will take part in this year's China International Import Expo with a focus on the food and beverage industry serving up 'UK Delicious Dishes,' Britain's Consul-General in Shanghai told Yicai Global.

The 300-square-meter UK Pavilion will feature some of the world's top brands in agriculture, food and beverages, including alcohol producer Diageo, nutrition product manufacturer Kendal Nutricare, tea maker Ahmad Tea and coffeehouse chain Wild Bean Café, John Edwards said.

There will also be a virtual exhibition hall that will be online from the end of September, before the expo is held in November. It will allow visitors to experience British innovative technologies and also provide opportunities for Chinese companies to talk business with British firms online.

Both the offline and online pavilions will allow Chinese visitors to experience the best of Britain, Edwards said. From food and beverages to energy and agriculture, the UK Pavilion will provide British and Chinese companies with a unique perspective to look deep into the UK and ensure that British and Chinese firms can have interactive and efficient ways of cooperation, he added.

The CIIE provides an opportunity for China and the UK to further their trade cooperation during Brexit and as the global economy recovers from the novel coronavirus pandemic, Edwards said. Last year, trade between China and the UK reached a record of GBP100 billion (USD128.9 billion).

The UK Pavilion will provide a unique platform for Chinese companies, investors and consumers to talk with British companies, he added. There will be a series of online and offline peripheral activities to further promote the trade partnership between the two countries. There will also be special exhibition areas for Scotland, Northern Ireland as well as central and northern England.

At the 2018 CIIE, Chinese and UK companies signed deals worth GBP2 billion (USD2.6 billion).

The third CIIE will take place at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10. The 360,000 square meters exhibition area will showcase a wide range of products in the services, food and agricultural product, automobile, intelligent industry & information technology, consumer goods, medical equipment & healthcare product sectors.

Editor: Kim Taylor