Twenty-nine exhibitors have signed agreements, pledging to attend the fourth China International Import Expo next year.

The signing took place the day after the third CIIE's opening ceremony on Nov 4. The third CIIE Enterprise Alliance held a meeting and more than 90 business members attended. Bank of China also provided special support for the event.

Since its debut, the CIIE has created records in the history of international expos, said Wang Bingnan, vice-minister of commerce.

This year's CIIE has been held as scheduled, on a greater scale and with more participating countries, despite the pandemic. The global trade gala shows China's commitment to sharing new economic growth opportunities in trade and investment, Wang said.

The CIIE Enterprise Alliance has contributed opinions and advice to the growth of the expo, which have helped to expand the annual event's international influence and draw more prime global businesses, he noted.

He said he expects exhibitors at the CIIE to reap more opportunities and realize better development.

Lin Jingzhen, vice-governor of BOC, said that since the first expo, the banking group has assisted in attracting exhibitors and conducting roadshows, offering all-around, one-stop financial service solutions.

BOC is going all-out to provide on-site financial consultancy services, host business matchmaking events and aid participants in the expo to find their partners, Lin said.

The CIIE Enterprise Alliance has grown into a cooperation platform for exchange information and resource sharing. BOC will join hands with the alliance to boost the development of the expo, he said.

As the only strategic partner of the CIIE, BOC assisted the CIIE Bureau and the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) with a series of expo-related activities this year. They included the first meeting of the third CIIE Enterprise Alliance in late July. During the meeting, the alliance's secretariat was revealed in BOC's branch at the Shanghai Hongqiao National Convention and Exhibition Center.