Singapore looks forward to participating in China International Import Expo

SINGAPORE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Singapore looks forward to participating in the inaugural China International Import Expo (CIIE) and hopes that the companies will take full advantage of the opportunities in an increasingly open Chinese market, through the CIIE platform, said an official on Thursday.

Singapore's Senior Minister of State of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Sim Ann also said at a press conference here that for Singaporean companies, the CIIE is highly relevant to the Belt and Road Initiative.

She added that Singaporean companies are already actively tracking developments in the Belt and Road and taking part in relevant projects.

She was echoed by entrepreneurs also at the conference. Roland Ng San Tiong, president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Singaporean enterprises know a lot about local culture and business environment in Southeast Asia, Australia and some other areas.

Singapore Business Federation Chairman Teo Siong Seng said that the CIIE is a very valuable platform that Singapore companies can leverage on to connect with buyers from China and the world.

"This expo is one of the ways to have better understanding, not only by China but also by other countries' attending, of what the other countries can do, so that they can complement each other," he said. Teo forecast that the number of Singaporean companies to participate in CIIE will exceed 100.

Zhong Manying, Economic and Commercial Minister-Counsellor of Embassy of China, introduced the CIIE at the press conference, saying that the Chinese government welcomes government officials, business communities and enterprises of Singapore to participate in the CIIE and make use of it as a platform to strengthen international exchanges and expand business.