国内英语新闻:Interview: Import expo in Shanghai "gateway" to Chinese market: German business representa

BERLIN, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be an opportunity and an important gateway for German companies to enter the Chinese market, expert with Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"We are confident that CIIE is one of the first steps for making sure that there are good conditions for German companies to do business in China," said Thomas Koenig, Director East Asia of DIHK.

DIHK assumes the role of CIIE's organizer in Germany and encourages German enterprises to showcase their competitive products and services through the new platform.

It is a wonderful opportunity for German companies to celebrate their successes in China already. So lots of companies that are established in China will showcase their talent and their products, Koenig said.

But it is also a wonderful opportunity for new German companies, which have so far not really discovered China's potential as a new destination for their products and ideas, he added.

Koenig assured that there will be a wide variety of German companies that are going to be present. It is about showcasing the wide variety that the German economy has and its offer to China.

"There will be a total of 170 German companies participating in this year's CIIE. We are very pleased to see such a large scale of participation, which underlines the German-Chinese friendship and partnership," Koenig said.

In the German pavilion itself, it will be highlighting technologies, ideas and new products, which are relevant to the Chinese market, he continued.

In addition, Koenig said that the CIIE is also about showcasing the new China, the new opportunities in China, and an open China for investment.

"China does encourage more exchanges with foreign companies, and also it is very open for business. And that kind of spirit is something we DIHK of course very much support," Koenig added.

CIIE, the first of its kind ever to be held by China in Shanghai, will be held on November 5-10. So far more than 2,800 companies from over 130 countries and regions have confirmed their participation in the event.