On the afternoon of March 27, at a press conference in Beijing hosted by the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China regarding the 4th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), it was officially announced that this year's Expo—which will take place in Hainan from April 13 to April 18—will feature more than 3,000 brands from 59 countries and regions including, for the first time, trade delegations from the UK, Mongolia, and Malaysia.

Notable high points of this year's Expo are as follows:

Special Focus on the Display of New Products

While maintaining relationships with brands and countries that took part in previous years' Expos, and continuing to focus on presenting "high quality products and new products," this year's Expo has not only added a number of top brands, but has also attracted exhibitors from more than 3,000 brands hailing from 59 countries and regions around the world.  In it's role as a major consumer goods exhibition that introduces leading international consumer trends to China and helps with meeting consumers' increasingly individual needs, this year will welcome a number of exhibitors from Ireland, France, and the UK who are—exclusive to the CICPE—bringing high-quality niche consumer brands that have not previously entered the Chinese market. At the same time, the best and most trendy domestic products have been specially invited to join international brands in stimulating consumption potential.

Continuing to Improve the Expo's Capability and Effectiveness

Guided by the desire to meet merchants' needs, this year's Expo has comprehensively improved its market-oriented operation level, planned a series of high-quality supply and demand matching activities, and effectively improved the quality-level and efficiency of merchant services. With 128,000m² of indoor exhibition area and a huge waterfront exhibition space, this year's Expo will—in addition to members of the public—serve more than 55,000 buyers and professional visitors. With the support of the Hainan Free Trade Port's visa-free policy for 59 countries, purchasing delegations from a dozen key countries and regions (including the UK, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan) and more than 100 executives from leading global enterprises will be in attendance at the Expo and will take part in business activities such as negotiations and contract signings.

When compared with other member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Hainan Free Trade Port has numerous unique advantages. At the press conference—when announcing that 318 brands from 11 RCEP member countries will participate in the exhibition—Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping stated: "The Hainan Expo has become an important platform and powerful witness for RCEP member countries to share China's opening-up opportunities and carry out international economic and trade cooperation."

More and More Exciting Activities

This year will be the first time for the Expo to adopt a "1+N" whole-island exhibition model. According to Tang Hua (Director of the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development), this year's event will feature additional special exhibition areas (on topics such as duty-free shopping, sailing, yachts, and international health consumption)  in places like Haikou and Qionghai in order to bring a unique consumption experience to the public and fully demonstrate the unique advantages of the FTP has in the development of new formats for medicine, health, duty-free shopping, and yachting.

Six thematic events on Hainan's hottest topics (tourism retail, smart home, green finance, healthcare, international education, and women's fashion) will be held as part of the Expo and—to create a colorful atmosphere for the entire island—the Expo will loan it's platform to eight special events throughout Hainan (including a Round the Island NEV rally and a Night Carnival).

Highlighting Green Exhibition Concepts

Every aspect of the Expo (from booth construction to travel and catering) supports the use of environmentally friendly and reusable materials and all Expo venues and ancillary facilities use 100% "green" electricity as part of promoting a "green, zero-carbon" exhibition.