Jinbao, mascot of the China International Import Expo. [Photo/Xinhua]

Amid a tepid economic recovery globally, the China International Import Expo is leveraging its role as an international public good to better support least developed countries (LDCs) in accessing China's super-sized market and further integrating into the world economy, experts and executives said.

This year's expo, to be held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10, will see the participation of 37 least developed countries, with the organizers providing over 120 free exhibition booths, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

According to the latest data from the United Nations, as of 2023, there were a total of 45 least developed countries globally, of which 33 are in Africa.

The African product zone at this year's CIIE will be significantly expanded, providing a platform to highlight a variety of specialty agricultural products from the continent, such as shea butter, coffee, sesame, peanuts and soybeans, the ministry said.

The CIIE will be an international springboard for Zambia's specialty product, honey, to expand its market share and take its reach further to consumers across China and beyond, said a local executive.

From a modest start of less than 1 metric ton in 2018, honey exports annually from Zambia have soared to nearly 20 tons, thanks to the opportunities presented by the CIIE, said Zhang Tongyang, general manager of Mpundu Wild Honey Ltd, which is based in Kabwe town in central Zambia.

"We don't just hand over the beehives — we first give the local people comprehensive training, ensuring that they have the skills to maintain the hives meticulously," Zhang said.

"After all, the more honey a hive produces, the greater the rewards for the hardworking hands that tend to it."

Ahead of the 7th CIIE, Mpundu plans to expand its booth space to 36 square meters, a substantial increase from the 9 square meters it occupied during its initial presence in 2018.

"A great many small businesses from Africa are also keen to utilize the CIIE to access the Chinese market, but independent participation is a hurdle for them. That's why we've decided to lend our support, bringing their products to the expo to be showcased together," Zhang said.

Rooibos tea, Ghanaian black soap, Malian shea butter creams, and aloe vera gels from the Cape of Good Hope will be brought to the event to be exhibited jointly, Zhang added.

The CIIE is just one component of China's broader initiative to support the world's least developed countries, especially those in Africa. In a recent announcement, China said that it would grant duty-free access to 100 percent of products originating from 33 African countries, further bolstering its commitment to advancing inclusive global growth.

The duty-free access pledge will dramatically improve the competitiveness of exports from these African countries, enabling them to penetrate the vast Chinese market more effectively and diversify their economic activities, said Wang Zhimin, a researcher at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies, which is part of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

The synergies between China's duty-free access pledge and initiatives such as the CIIE can have a truly transformative impact, empowering African countries to better integrate into global supply chains and drive sustainable economic progress, Wang added.

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