China's import expo contributes to fight against protectionism, says Hungarian expert

The upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) contributes greatly to the fight against global protectionism and will bring win-win outcomes for the participants, a Hungarian expert has said.

"It is obvious that the CIIE is an excellent tool against protectionism. It is evident, because so many common interests bind us together," Peter Ondre, managing director of the Hungarian Agrar Marketing Centrum, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

While Hungarians could learn many things from their Chinese partners, Hungarians could also contribute to the pace of China's progress, the expert said, noting that the CIIE will greatly boost the development of Chinese-Hungarian business relations.

"A win-win situation is the result of the strengthening of business, virtual and direct relationships between the two nations, as the Chinese and the Hungarian people are not merely friends, but also have mutual respect for each other," he said.

The expert also underlined that Hungary would be present at the expo as a guest of honor, an honor shared only with 11 other countries, saying that the CIIE is aimed at promoting global trade and global growth, enhancing trade liberalization and economic globalization, and opening the Chinese market to the world.

Ondre said Hungary's primary goal at the 256-square-meter Hungarian pavilion is to present its products and services to the Chinese market and introduce Hungary as a tourist and investment destination.

In view of the exponentially growing Chinese economy, he said Hungary is focusing on delicacy and comfort products, making premium-grade Hungarian product groups available to the increasingly demanding Chinese consumer. He added that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Hungary nearly tripled from 2011 to 2017.

The CIIE, the first import-themed state-level expo in the world, will be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, gathering more than 3,000 companies, including over 200 enterprises that are leading in their industries from over 130 different countries and regions.