The ninth edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to imports, opened on Thursday in Shanghai in east China.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

Running from Nov. 5 to 10, this year's CIIE has attracted 4,142 overseas exhibitors, including more than 300 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders. Over 480 exhibits are set to make their global, Asian or China debuts at the 2026 event, the highest number in its history.

Total exhibition area exceeds 440,000 square meters this year. U.S. exhibitors occupy more than 50,000 square meters, leading for the eighth consecutive year, while companies from Germany, the United Kingdom and France also rank among the top participants.

This year's CIIE retains its six major exhibition areas and an innovation incubation section, covering areas such as intelligent industry and information technology, consumer goods, food and agricultural products, automobiles and smart mobility, medical devices and healthcare products, and trade in services.

The innovation incubation section features 633 technology and innovation projects from nearly 40 countries and regions, up almost 20 percent from the previous edition.

The Hongqiao International Economic Forum, also taking place in Shanghai alongside the CIIE, on Thursday released the World Openness Report 2026, and unveiled its first Export-to-China Capacity Development Report.

Announced in 2017 and held annually since 2018, the CIIE serves to give overseas businesses greater access to the vast and growing Chinese market.

The past eight editions have drawn more than 180 countries, regions and international organizations and seen over 3,400 new products, technologies and services make their debuts, while cumulative intended deals have exceeded 580 billion U.S. dollars.