(CIIE) Opening doors to shared future -- China's import expo boosts market access, development for least developed countries

China's annual import expo has been opening doors to the world's least developed countries (LDCs), facilitating not only the exchange of ideas, orders and friendship, but also driving their local development and income growth.

At the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), which began on Nov. 5 and will close on Nov. 10 in Shanghai, Myanmar entrepreneur Thida Win has been offering her customers spoons of fruit-scented honey, and showcasing byproducts such as beeswax balm and candles.

"The CIIE is a global marketplace in the spotlight. We are looking forward to finding celebrated distributors and unlocking the potential of the Chinese market," said Win, CEO of Plan Bee Social Enterprise.

Although her company has already exported honey products on a small scale to China's border regions, Win is attending the import expo for the second time to gauge market trends and gain greater visibility.

She said the company is committed to fulfilling its social responsibilities by training over 2,000 beekeepers, and by providing equipment and buying honey from them. Acknowledging the CIIE's vision for a shared future, she said, "We expect to boost our production capacity and farmers' livelihood."

Win's booth is in an exhibition area dedicated to products from the LDCs that have diplomatic ties with China, offering a glimpse into how China's preferential policies are supporting small exporters to gain a foothold in the world's second-largest import market. Over 160 enterprises from 37 LDCs are participating in the eighth CIIE -- up 23.5 percent year on year.