To further optimize and improve the research quality of the winning bid project and facilitate the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in promoting the new landscape of all-round opening up, Shanghai MICEE Institute held the kick-off expert consultation for the key project "Research on the Spillover Effects of the China International Import Expo" at Shanghai University on July 11, 2018. Experts including Gong Weigang, Former Executive Vice Chairman of Shanghai Exhibition Industry Association and Senior Business Advisor, Zhang Dingguo, General Manager of Shanghai Modern International Exhibition Co., Ltd. and Senior Exhibition Advisor, Lou Yuesheng, General Manager of Shanghai ZhengxinFangsheng Rating Co., Ltd. and Senior Exhibition Advisor, Zhou Daren, General Manager of Shanghai Xiehe Advertising and Exhibition Co., Ltd. and Senior Exhibition Advisor, and Prof. Yan Sanjiu, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Shanghai University attended the meeting. Industry and academia experts conducted candid, in-depth and constructive academic exchanges on the kick-off report regarding the spillover effects of the CIIE.

(Photo 1: Expert review meeting in progress)

Gong Weigang, Former Executive Vice Chairman of Shanghai Exhibition Industry Association, presided over the meeting as the expert panel leader. The meeting first listened to the kick-off report by Prof. Zhang Min, Executive Dean of Shanghai MICEE Institute and project team leader. This project is a key decision-making consulting project of the Development Research Center of Shanghai Municipal People's Government. It was approved after competitive social bidding, review and on-site defense. After repeated revisions, the kick-off report preliminarily determined the following main contents: the significance and characteristics of the CIIE, understanding of spillover effects, inspirations from major domestic and foreign exhibitions, the actual impacts it may bring to current Shanghai, China and the world, how to make scientific judgments and effectively undertake them, specific countermeasures and suggestions.

(Photo 2: Project team presenting kick-off report)

The project team believes that the CIIE, on the basis of market mechanisms and adhering to the principle of "government guidance, market operation, enterprise domination", will lead to spillover effects due to commodity aggregation, drive transformation and upgrading through brand competition, reflecting the requirements of high-level opening up, high-quality life and high-quality development in the new era. The countermeasures and suggestions mainly involve aspects such as supply-side structural reform, boosting consumption drivers, building import trade bases, international consumer cities, the Yangtze River Delta tourism center, and an international exhibition capital.

After listening to the kick-off report, the experts affirmed the dedication and efforts of Prof. Zhang Min and all colleagues of Shanghai MICEE Institute for the CIIE. They believed the report had comprehensive contents and in-depth research and reflections, demonstrating scientific, forward-looking and actionable qualities. At the same time, they put forward many valuable opinions and suggestions for further improvements. The experts unanimously agreed that the project is of academic value and practical significance for scientifically judging and effectively undertaking the CIIE's spillover effects, elevating global urban capabilities, building Shanghai into a world-class international trade center and globally influential innovation center, and the Yangtze River Delta led by Shanghai into a world-class city cluster.

(Photo 3: Expert review meeting concludes successfully)

Next, based on Shanghai's future development goals and strategic needs, benchmarking major domestic and foreign exhibitions, and referencing empirical quantitative requirements, the project will conduct all-around predictions of the CIIE's spillover effects through concrete and pragmatic analysis, consider systematic plans for undertaking methodologies, roadmaps and timetables, and then put forward practical and feasible countermeasures and suggestions to facilitate all-round opening up to the outside world and a new round of great development.

Previously, Shanghai MICEE Institute's "CIIE Organization and Implementation Plan and Related Research Report" was adopted and submitted by the Shanghai Municipal Government and Ministry of Commerce. It was personally reviewed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, praised by Premier Li Keqiang at a meeting, adopted at the 36th meeting of the Central Committee for Deepening Overall Reform, laying the foundation for Shanghai's proactive application and successful hosting of the CIIE. In the future, Shanghai MICEE Institute will continue contributing its professional think tank strengths to the CIIE's journey towards the world's top level.

Author | Mao Haijun

Photography | Mo Huayiyan, Wang Ziyu