Consul General of Fiji in Shanghai Yok Yee Chan

Editor's Note:

The Fourth China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10 as scheduled. Despite the difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, global traders plan to gather at the annual event online and offline to showcase their products and services in fields such as healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) and carbon neutrality, looking to boost their performance in the Chinese market.

The Global Times (GT) interviewed 15 foreign diplomats in Beijing and Shanghai about their engagement and expectations for this year's CIIE. Here is：

Yok Yee Chan
Consul General of Fiji in Shanghai

GT: How does Fiji plan to engage in the CIIE despite facing challenges from COVID-19?

Yok Yee Chan: Fiji has been participating in the CIIE for four years. Right now, we are facing the challenges of COVID-19. Unfortunately this year, we don't have a country pavilion in the physical sense, but we are participating in a virtual country pavilion. I personally participated at the launch on October 13. 

In addition, we have trade pavilions at the venue. Our distributors of Fiji products are participating. We do look forward to the event, and also welcoming all the Chinese visitors to visit the Fiji booths and log online to visit our virtual country exhibition pavilion.

We also tend for this platform once again to meet thousands and millions of potential Chinese buyers.

GT: What are your expectations for the upcoming CIIE?

Yok Yee Chan: The CIIE is a core import expo. A lot of people perhaps perceive that it is just for goods only, but for Fiji, we also see it as a multiple-purpose platform to promote Fiji in general, including our tourism, to connect people, and to help Chinese learn much more about my country.

Apart from introducing new, premium, high-quality products to the Chinese market, we would like the Chinese to know much about my country, especially as a holiday destination. This year, on the 1st of December, Fiji is once again opening up its national borders to welcome international travelers to Fiji for holidays.

I know the CIIE is a very good platform to promote such activities not only in China, but throughout the world. We look forward to this opportunity.