The 7th China International Import Expo, or CIIE, opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai on Nov 5.

Local retail giant Bailian Group, a seven-time exhibitor, takes on dual roles as both exhibitor and buyer at this year's expo, which runs until Nov 10.

The group has set up a 1,000-square-meter art exhibition booth titled "the balancing" in the 6.2H consumer goods section. Featuring over 600 items from 70 brands across 17 countries, the booth showcases a variety of products, including fashion, shoes, accessories, fragrances, and home decor.

Bailian has also introduced an AI digital host at its booth, offering visitors an interactive shopping experience through voice-guided virtual avatars.

On Nov 6, Bailian hosted a roundtable titled "Future Ecosystems of Art and Business Sustainability" at the booth. The discussion brought together renowned contemporary artist Ding Yi, curator Tian Feiyu, Che Fei from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, and emerging artist Yang Song to explore the integration of art and commerce in urban development and sustainability.

Throughout Nov 7 to 9, Bailian's booth is featuring six exclusive product releases from several international brands. On Nov 7, for instance, fashion brand Feng Chen Wang launched its collaborative collection with SAIC Audi, followed by the release of fragrances such as Klower Pandor's First Time collection and Shareco's classic perfume series. Soupy's handmade toys, along with fashion brands ORR and Dragonblues, are also being showcased for the first time in the Chinese mainland.

Representatives from Bailian's retail alliance and global suppliers participated in a mass signing ceremony on Nov 8, gathering retail buyers from across the Shanghai Exchange Group. The ceremony covered categories such as food, consumer goods, and medical devices, as part of an initiative to foster effective trade partnerships.

The event also featured a forum titled "CIIE Opportunities to Inspire New Consumption Scenarios", which invited industry experts, government officials, and digital platform leaders to discuss innovations in the convergence of business, tourism, culture, and sports – contributing to Shanghai's growth as one of the international consumption center cities.

Source: Official WeChat account of Bailian Group