A Macao exhibition area at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) helps promote Macao’s platform roles along with the city’s role as an important gateway between China and the rest of the world.　

The “Macao Hub” exhibition area is at the China Pavilion at the Shanghai event. CIIE, which is being staged from 5 to 10 November, is the world's first import-themed, national-level expo.

Macao’s participation in CIIE helps showcase the Special Administrative Region’s (SAR’s) progress, in particular its achievements over the past 20 years, the period since the city’s return to the motherland.

Also highlighted in the Expo are Macao’s strides towards its strategic goals of being a world centre of tourism and leisure, and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies).

“Macao Hub” has been organised by the Government Information Bureau. It covers 126 square metres and is divided into four sections: “Macao – Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”; “A Place Where East Meets West, and Business Opportunities Abound”; “Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Macao’s Return to China”; and “Integrating into National Development”.

The Macao exhibition area features bright and translucent images – in silhouette form – of the Macao World Heritage sites, showcasing the unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultures in Macao.

The “Macao Hub” exhibition area has video-monitor equipment to display videos. It also has virtual reality-based interactive installations in order to demonstrate Macao’s platform role and the SAR’s effort to act as a bridge connecting eight Portuguese-speaking countries to China and the rest of the world. In doing so, Macao seeks to boost among the parties cooperation in economic and trade matters; promotion of talent; and cultural exchange.

The interactive materials are also seeking to promote better understanding of the city’s unique charms, and its capabilities in terms of being a “Centre and Platform” and a UNESCO-designated “Creative City of Gastronomy”. 

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR, “Macao Hub” also features an interactive display taking as its reference point the city’s “Lotus Flower In Full Bloom” bronze sculpture, which was presented by the Central Government in 1999 as a gift to the Macao SAR Government.

The “Macao Hub” exhibition area at CIIE seeks to illustrate, via pictures and statistics, Macao's steady economic growth, social harmony and prosperity in the two decades since its return to the motherland. The information also outlines Macao’s overall strengths and active involvement in a number of national projects, such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the “Belt and Road” initiative.

Visitors to the exhibition area will also gain fresh insights on Macao’s strides in developing its “Centre and Platform” policies as well as in establishing itself as a multicultural exchange and cooperation base with an emphasis on Chinese culture.

“Macao Hub” attendees during CIIE have additionally a chance to collect special souvenirs provided by, respectively: the Cultural Affairs Bureau; the Macao Government Tourism Office; the Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries; and the Municipal Affairs Bureau.

The China Pavilion covers an aggregate area of 1,500 square metres. It takes as its theme of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, demonstrating the country’s economic and social development and opportunities available in a new era.

Guests from some 170 countries and regions are to take part in the six-day event, including politicians, business people and representatives of international organisations.

The Shanghai event has two sections. The Country Exhibition section covers a total of 30,000 square metres, and has 64 countries participating. The Business Exhibition section has an area of more than 330,000 square metres, with participation from some 3,000 companies from more than 150 countries and areas setting up booths relating to technology, consumer goods, food products, healthcare and other services.