Businesspeople communicate at the matchmaking session of the fourth China International Import Expo on July 15, 2021. [Photo by Xing Yi/chinadaily.com.cn]

The fourth edition of the China International Import Expo held its first matchmaking session on Thursday, attracting around 50 exhibitors and 100 buyers from the consumer goods sector.

The exhibitors included Fortune 500 companies such as Unilever and P&G, while buyers included Tmall International, Shanghai NGS and Bailian Group.

Liu Fuxue, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau, said the expo has concluded the exhibitor application process and had recently opened registration for professional visitors.

Purchasers, government agencies, public institutions and social organizations wishing to attend the expo can register for the event on its official website.

Shen Weihua, deputy director of the municipal commerce commission, said Shanghai government will organize a trade mission of 150,000 people to make purchases at the expo, and build more year-around exhibition platforms for CIIE exhibitors.

Jia Bin, vice president of fourth-time exhibitor BSH China, said he sees great potential in China's home appliance market, and that the company will present environment-friendly and energy-saving products such as dishwashers and clothes dryers at the expo.