Mixing political summitry with a trade fair, heads of state, trade ministers and executives from multinational companies will gather in Shanghai on Monday to hear President Xi Jinping tout China’s role as a global importer.
Beijing is billing the China International Import Expo (CIIE) as its most significant event this year and as a demonstration of commitment to globalisation as its economic growth slows and a trade battle with Washington continues.
But the US is snubbing the expo and European countries are generally sending lower-level ministers, with diplomats expressing scepticism over Beijing’s commitment to easing barriers to trade and complaining about the event’s confusing organisation.