LUXEMBOURG - A ceremony introducing the first edition of the Shanghai International Import Exhibition, to be held in Shanghai from Nov 5-10 this year, took place here on Thursday, with the aim of drawing more Luxemburgish companies into the project.

Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Etienne Schneider called on Luxembourg companies to take the opportunity to "enter into business relations with our Chinese partners and for our Chinese partners to do business with Luxemburg companies".

The Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Luxembourg, Huang Changqing, who spoke at length about the benefits of such a large-scale exhibition.

"The first edition of the China International Import Trade Fair (CIIE) is a novelty in the history of China's international trade development, demonstrating a new phase of its high-level openness, and of a new embodiment of the Belt and Road Initiative for international cooperation," Huang said.

"Luxembourg is the third largest host country for Chinese investment in the European Union: it has attracted more than $10 billion of investment from China, concentrated mainly in the financial industry. I am convinced that with China's enlargement, there is a good prospect for our two countries to develop relations of friendship and cooperation," he added.

Many representatives of Luxembourg companies expressed their wish to take part in this exhibition, which they believe will provide an excellent opportunity and serve as unique platform to promote and sell their products and services in China.

Guo Jianjun, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg, said: "The creation of this platform for international cooperation should provide a business opportunity that will lead to a win-win outcome and common development."

More than 1,700 companies worldwide have submitted their applications to participate in the first edition of the China International Import Trade Fair (CIIE), to be held in Shanghai.