Visitors experience VR gaming capsules at the Intelligent Industry & Information Technology exhibition area of the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in  Shanghai, November 5, 2022. Photo: Xinhua

The fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) pulled down curtain on Thursday in Shanghai, with $73.5 billion worth of tentative trade deals inked, up 3.9 percent compared with the previous expo, Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the CIIE Bureau, said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Representatives from 145 countries, regions and international organizations participated in the annual trade fair. More than 2,800 companies from 127 countries and regions attended this year's CIIE. A total of 438 new products, tech and services were put on display at the expo, more than the last expo, according to Sun.

The online expo platform launched for the first time in CIIE's history, has attracted 368 enterprises to participate. A total of 69 countries and international organizations took part in the online National Pavilion, Sun said.

And, 284 of the world's top 500 companies and industry leading firms attended this year's CIIE, with roughly 90 percent of the participants from last year's event returning to the show.

More than 1,000 enterprises from 104 countries and regions participated in the food and agricultural products exhibition, marking the largest number in terms of participating countries and regions as well as enterprises, Sun noted.

Gu Honghui, head of the expo's services team and deputy secretary general of Shanghai municipal government, said at the press briefing that zero COVID-19 infections were reported during the CIIE.

The auto exhibition highlights smart technology, and low carbon, displaying the latest achievements of the global manufacturing industry, focusing on integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and displaying cutting-edge technologies and high-end equipment-making.

In the consumer goods exhibition area, many exhibits were launched for the first time, actively promoting green and sustainable growth and lifestyle.

The exhibition area of medical devices and health care attracted 15 global pharmaceutical giants and 10 medical device enterprises.

At this year's CIIE, many companies have signed good deals and would like to increase more investment in China. On Monday, a Chinese company in North China's Hebei Province signed a contract valued at $200 million with Cargill to buy 2 million tons of iron ore, the Hebei Daily reported. Also, DuPont signed procurement deals with two Shanghai companies on Sunday, the company said.

Liu Jun, president of Cargill China told the Global Times that "the Chinese market still contains huge business opportunities and development potential, and the future prospects are promising." The innovation environment and investment will likely enable China to lead the world in many industrial sectors in the future, he said.

"Cargill is full of confidence in the development of the Chinese market," Liu said. Liu noted that the company has complete business chain in the Chinese market, including in production and sales, research and development.