[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The second China International Import Expo held a road show in Kunming, capital city of Southwest China's Yunnan province, on Sept 20. This was 19th stop in the nationwide drive launched by the CIIE.

The CIIE, to be held in Shanghai in early November, is the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports. Last year, the first expo concluded with the value of intended deals topping more than $57.8 billion.

According to the CIIE Bureau, visitor registration for the second CIIE started on July 1 and will end on Sept 30.

To recruit professional visitors nationwide to the second expo, especially those from small- and medium-sized private companies, the CIIE Bureau and China's regional commerce departments have been co-hosting a series of road shows in major cities since late May.

The Kunming road show featured the expo's exhibitions on Sci-Tech Life and Food and Agricultural Products. 

Business representatives from the global home appliance manufacturer BSH and the Australian wine brand 3 Oceans spoke on their experience as CIIE exhibitors last year as well as their star products to be displayed at this year's expo.

According to the Department of Commerce of Yunnan province, the province's trade mission to the inaugural CIIE had a total of 2,588 individuals and made onsite $3.35 billion worth of purchases. At present, the number of registered visitors to the second expo has reached 2,400.

In 2018, Yunnan set out its economic strategy of building world-class green energy and green food sectors, as well as healthy life destinations, proposing eight key industries such as health, tourism, information and agriculture.

A pilot free trade zone in Yunnan was officially launched in August. The FTZ covers parts of Kunming, Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture that neighbors Vietnam and Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture, which borders Myanmar. It will innovate modes of cross-border economic cooperation and strive to build itself into China's open front to South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Yunnan viewed the CIIE as a great platform to promote its new development opportunities, attract foreign investment and introduce advanced technologies.