Almost 90 foreign-funded companies from the business zone in Shanghai to attend China International Import Expo

The Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone is to showcase foreign-funded enterprises' technologies, forms of business and models at the sixth China International Import Expo at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from Sunday until Friday.

Founded in 2019, the Lin-gang Special Area shows China's commitment to all-around openness in the new era and promotes the healthy development of economic globalization, according to its management committee.

It is implementing opening-up policies that are competitive in global markets and conducting high-stakes testing for an open economy in a bid to assist foreign trade, financial flows and information sharing between the area and overseas markets, said officials from the management committee.

During this year's CIIE, the management committee, in collaboration with Lingang Group, is to set up an exhibition zone covering 2,700 square meters.

The special area said it expects to showcase its determination and progress in promoting high-level opening-up via the CIIE, expand international exchanges and attract more foreign investors.

The exhibition is to bring together 88 foreign-funded enterprises from 23 countries and regions worldwide, involving emerging industries such as high-end ships and marine engineering equipment, new-generation information technology and intelligent equipment manufacturing.

Some of the exhibitors operate in the special area, while others are potential investors, according to the management committee.

German automation giant Lenze Group was one of the first foreign-funded companies to invest in the Lin-gang Special Area.

Its exhibits include solutions that integrate new energy battery manufacturing, digitization and automation. These are to deliver a unique interactive experience for visitors to its booth.

Swiss high-end medical device supplier P-Cure is to present its proton therapy technology with a model of how it works.

Meanwhile, Isdera, a German supercar manufacturer that set up its Chinese company in the special area in 2020, is to display its electric models Commendatore GT and Imperator New Concept.

In addition, an array of themed exhibitions are to be held. The hydrogen energy exhibition, for example, is to gather foreign-funded companies in different phases of the industrial chain, including hydrogen production, storage, transportation and utilization.

Cummins, a global leader in the power industry, is to present its fuel cells, hydrogen generators and hydrogen storage cylinders.

Japan-headquartered Envision AESC is to display its charging robot Mochi, which can be controlled via an app and charges electric vehicles automatically.

Other foreign-funded companies in Shanghai, such as Johnson Controls from the United States and the French auto parts provider Bontaz, are to join the hydrogen exhibition.

Launched in 2022, the international data port is a pioneering zone of the Lin-gang Special Area. At the international data port-themed exhibition, software provider SAP and Project44, a unicorn company from Chicago, are to showcase their latest achievements.

Participants in the trade in services exhibition are to include the logistics service provider DP World from Dubai, HSBC Fintech Services and IPwe, a French intellectual property management company.

Another highlight is the China-Laos exhibition which is to display the progress of the China-Laos Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone and trade exchanges supported by the China-Laos-Thailand Railway.

The exhibitors are 11 enterprises from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, including Thailand's Kasikorn Bank and PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company.

More than just exhibitions, the Lin-gang Special Area is to host 104 major activities during this year's CIIE, including forums, signing ceremonies and promotional events.

By the end of September, there were 3,119 foreign-funded companies based in the special area.

The actual use of foreign capital has reached $5.06 billion since its establishment, including $515 million in 2020, $1.26 billion in 2021 and $2.04 billion in 2022.

The increasing numbers demonstrated foreign investors' great confidence in the Lin-gang Special Area, said officials from the management committees.

Foreign trade had also seen sustained growth. From January to June 2023, the area's import and export volume totaled 200 billion yuan ($27.33 billion), up about 60 percent year-on-year, according to official statistics.

The Lin-gang Special Area has developed an ambitious plan for the future. By 2025, it will establish an efficient system for investment and trade liberalization and build functional platforms with high-level opening-up.

The region's competitiveness and creativity will be enhanced, leading to economic growth, the plan said.

By 2035, a special economic zone with strong international influence and competitiveness is to be established and the Lin-gang Special Area will become a key driver for China's deep integration into economic globalization.

The Dishui Lake in the Lin-gang Special Area in Shanghai. CHINA DAILY