Small dreams grow into big realities

"We not only want China to buy our products, such as the soybeans and beef, but we also want to cooperate with China in terms of technology exchange and investment for agriculture, industrialization, and more," he adds.

This also resonates with many CIIE exhibitors from the least-developed countries (LDCs). The expo has offered free booths and favorable policies since 2018 to help boost opportunities in the Chinese market. At this year's expo, 37 LDCs were warmly welcomed, particularly those in the agriculture and food sectors.

Ethiopia's Ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew Yimam, said at a conference during the Eighth CIIE that agriculture remains the backbone of many LDCs' economies. It is the foundation for ensuring food security, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable growth. However, challenges such as limited market access, value chain integration, and technology upgrading, still persist.

"In this regard, China's supportive import policies and major platforms, like the CIIE, have played an instrumental role in enabling agricultural and food products from LDCs to reach the huge Chinese market," he says.

Ethiopia has participated in the expo since 2018. The ambassador notes that many Ethiopian products, such as coffee, sesame, soybeans, beans, spices, flowers, and honey, have been well-received in the Chinese market, and the nation is committed to expanding the trade sector both in volume and value.

Following the success of longstanding exhibitors, the expo is also seeing the wide participation of new participants who look to introduce their specialties to the Chinese market.

Among them is Ernesto Del Rio Bayonesta from Spain. He runs a 50-year-old family business of handmade traditional local foods, such as toast bread, chocolates, biscuits, and pastries, all of which made their China debut at the Eighth CIIE. As promising products in the gifting markets, the young owner hopes to find distributors at the expo to introduce his hometown specialties to Chinese consumers.

Handicraft artists from overseas are also trying to connect with Chinese consumers. Rabindra Kumar Shrestha from Nepal is just one of them.

At a special pavilion celebrating the friendship between Lhasa, capital city of Xizang autonomous region, and Kathmandu of Nepal, Shrestha showcased his exquisite handmade family products related to religious ceremonies at the CIIE.

Shrestha says that it has not been easy, as it usually takes several months for the whole family to create one item, highlighting his gratitude for the friendship, kindness, and help from Lhasa for bringing them to the expo.

"I'm so proud to bring our products to the expo. Everyone is so friendly here," says Shrestha, hoping to find the right buyer for his artworks.

"We start from a small dream, and it is becoming a big dream now," he adds with a smile.