Highlights of the second CIIE

　　The second China International Import Expo has reached a successful conclusion with many participants planning to return next year. Let's see some of the highlights from this year's CIIE.

　　Value of deals

　　A strategic vaccine online service MoU is signed at the second CIIE in Shanghai on Nov 7, 2019. [Photo by Yang Yang/chinadaily.com.cn]

　　The value of deals emerging from the six-day event topped $71.13 billion, up 23 percent from the event in 2018.

　　Number of companies signed up for next year's expo

　　Yves Archambault, senior manager of Product Marketing at Varian Medical Systems Inc, poses for a photo at the second CIIE in Shanghai on Nov 7, 2019. Varian has already filed a request to attend the third CIIE. [Photo by Yang Yang/chinadaily.com.cn]

　　Encouraged by this year's results, more than 230 companies signed up for next year's expo, including expanded exhibition areas. More than 80 applicants for the next CIIE are Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders, the CIIE bureau said.

　　New exhibits

　　A research team representative beside a popular 'hug robot' at the second CIIE in Shanghai on Nov 9, 2019. [Photo by Yang Yang/chinadaily.com.cn]

　　The CIIE bureau said on Sunday that at least 391 new products, technologies or services were released in this year's CIIE.

　　Exhibition Area

　　An aerial photo taken on Nov 9, 2018, shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

　　The exhibition area of this year's CIIE expanded to 360,000 square meters.

　　Participating companies

　　Gary Hunter, global business development manager of Australian company Blended and Pack at the second CIIE in Shanghai on Nov 8, 2019. [Photo by Yang Yang/chinadaily.com.cn]

　　This year's CIIE, running from Nov 5 to 10, attracted over 3,800 companies from 181 countries, regions and international organizations.

　　Professional visitors

　　A professional visitor tries a piece of pork ham at the second CIIE in Shanghai on Nov 8, 2019. [Photo by Yang Yang/chinadaily.com.cn]

　　Over 500,000 professional visitors registered for the second CIIE, including over 7,000 overseas purchasers.

　　Number of guest countries

　　An airplane model at the Russia Pavilion during the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Nov 6, 2019. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

　　The number of guest countries increased from 12 to 15 this year, and over one third of the countries made their debut at the national pavilion of this year's CIIE.