"Partnership" and "visibility" were the two words which Xavier Chatte-Ruols, the French commercial consul in Shanghai, used to describe the fourth China International Import Expo that ended earlier in November.

"China is a huge market which offers many opportunities but requires a long-term investment. For a foreign company willing to develop in China, one of the key factors is to find the right Chinese partners to develop durable business relationships," he said in an interview on Nov 12.

"The CIIE is a very good opportunity for exhibitors to establish new partnerships and strengthen former contacts."

Slightly more than 80 French companies participated in the CIIE this year, according to the French commercial consul.

"At the end of the CIIE, all exhibitors of the French pavilion were satisfied with the contacts they have established and with the media exposure they gained from the CIIE," he said.

Business France, the Trade and Investment office of the French Embassy, organized a pavilion "Taste France" hosting 12 French exhibitors dedicated to the French gastronomy, food products and wines.

A range of business activities were also held on the sidelines of the CIIE. More than 30 events, including a seminar on China's carbon zero mission, the "Invest in France"seminar, and the Sino-France Cosmetic Summit in Fengxian district to promote French expertise and know-how, according to Business France.

"The CIIE is a good time for us to promote France and French companies," he said. "Business France supports more than 1,000 new French companies in their development in China every year. We are very confident that French companies will keep coming and develop partnerships with Chinese companies."

Huang Xinyi contributed to this story.