It has been a nervy few days for financial markets.  A sell-off in bond markets, prompted by monetary tightening in America, this week infected global stock markets, too. The S&P 500 share price index fell by over 3% on October 10th, its worst day in eight months. Markets in Shanghai hit their lowest level for nearly four years the next day; those in Tokyo and Hong Kong closed around 3.5% lower.

At first glance, the sell-off seems odd. The world economy is still growing briskly enough: this week the IMF only slightly trimmed its forecast for world GDP growth for 2018, from 3.9% to 3.7%. But investors are right to fret. Whereas acceleration was synchronized across much of the world in 2017, the global economy's expansion now looks increasingly unbalanced. 

Xi to address 5th CIIE opening ceremony 

via video

President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech via video at the opening ceremony of the fifth China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum on Friday, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said Thursday.

The opening ceremony will be held in Shanghai, said spokesperson Shu Jueting.

The fifth China International Import Expo, which will be held from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai, gets the final touches before the launch.

Over 280 of the world's top 500 enterprises and industry giants will participate in the event, among which nearly 90 percent are returning participants from last year, according to the CIIE Bureau.

The preparations of lighting, flower decoration and interior setup for pavilions at the main venue for the 5th CIIE are entering into the final stage.

商务部新闻发言人束珏婷11月3日宣布：第五届中国国际进口博览会暨虹桥国际经济论坛开幕式将于11月4日在上海举行。国家主席习近平将发表视频致辞。

A total of 284 Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders will join the enterprise exhibition at the Fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), more than last year’s level and with nearly nine out of 10 being repeat exhibitors, the event's organizers told a press conference on Tuesday.

This year’s expo is slated for November 5-10 in Shanghai and expects to welcome participants from 145 countries, regions and international organizations.

The CIIE has successfully held four sessions since 2018, serving as a platform to promote building a new development pattern, high-level opening-up and multilateralism, the organizers said.

Six exhibition areas will display hundreds of new products, technologies and services. Two new exhibition areas will be set up this year, showcasing the crop farming industry area and artificial intelligence.

This year’s exhibition will also optimize the low-carbon energy and environmental protection technology areas and expand the innovation incubation area.

More than 150 startups involving in technology equipment, consumer goods, medical care, and automobiles will be at the exhibition.

All member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership have enterprises participating in the exhibition.

The latest session will see a higher number of participants from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative and the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The Hongqiao forum will open on the sidelines of the CIIE 2022 focusing on the theme of “openness.” The number of sub-forums will expand from 14 to 24 to discuss hot issues related to global openness and development.