Six CIIE Guest Countries of Honor Showcase Unique Strengths, Deepen Cooperation with China

Countries have been using the Country Exhibition zone of the annual China International Import Expo to showcase their strengths and explore cooperation opportunities, demonstrating the expo's role as a global hub promoting trade, exchange, mutual understanding, and win-win cooperation between China and the rest of the world.

This year, 67 countries and international organizations will participate, with Sweden, Georgia, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, and Thailand serving as Guest Countries of Honor. They will showcase their competitive industries and distinctive cultures to the Chinese market.

Let's check out their national pavilions.

Sweden: Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development

Sweden's national pavilion takes "Creating Possibilities Together" as its theme, highlighting Sweden's core strengths of innovation, spirit of cooperation, and reliability while commemorating the 75th anniversary of Sweden-China diplomatic relations.

Designed in a Nordic style, the pavilion integrates color matching, wooden materials, and minimalist home elements. It is split into three main sections: an interactive area with screens showing climate data, a cultural area where visitors can enjoy "Fika" coffee breaks with Nordic pastries, and a business area showcasing 26 Swedish companies and institutions in areas like green technology, digitalization, medical care, and advanced green manufacturing.

Featured exhibits include SKF's lightweight ceramic-ball bearings for the aerospace industry, which are lighter but harder than steel balls and offer better high-temperature resistance and electrical corrosion insulation, and the newly launched Scania Super heavy-duty truck and Volvo XC70 plug-in hybrid.

Georgia: Cultural Treasures at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia

Georgia's pavilion, themed "A Cultural Gem and Dynamic Business Hub at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia," blends traditional and modern elements to present its unique culture. It showcases the ancient Georgian alphabet, winemaking craftsmanship, music, and dance, while an open kitchen will serve authentic cuisine to convey the hospitality of the country.

As the first Eurasian country that has signed a free trade agreement with China, which took effect on January 1, 2018, Georgia will emphasize its role as a key logistics hub in Eurasia, introducing its free trade agreements, preferential tax policies, and friendly investment environment.

The pavilion will showcase the Qvevri clay jars that are among the world's earliest winemaking containers and have been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

There will be replicas of two approximately 1.8-million-year-old skulls unearthed from the Dmanisi site, named "Zezva" and "Miza." These are the earliest human remains found outside Africa and are classified as "Georgian humans" with a morphology between Homo habilis and Homo erectus, rewriting the understanding of early human migration.

Visitors will also be able to see a copy of the 12th-century classic epic "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" (also known as "The Knight in the Tiger's Skin") by Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, a representative work of Georgian classical literature that eulogizes sincere friendship and steadfast love.

The pavilion has arranged special activities: the Rostavi Ensemble will perform four distinctive Georgian folk dances and folk music; two chefs will cook on-site, inviting visitors to explore Georgia's diverse traditional flavors; and the Georgian National Wine Agency will host a wine tasting activity to showcase the unique Qvevri winemaking method.

Colombia: Natural Bounty and Cultural Vibrancy

Colombia's pavilion immerses visitors in the Amazon rainforest with water curtain installations and tropical plants, highlighting its abundant natural resources. Led by a high-level delegation including the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism, over 80 entrepreneurs will showcase premium products covering high-quality coffee, premium chocolate, jewelry, leather products, and ethnic handicrafts.

At the expo, Colombia will showcase its national coffee brand, Juan Valdez, which represents more than 548,000 Colombian coffee-growing families as well as Colombia's culture and traditions. Major e-commerce platforms like Tmall and JD.com have already established a strong presence for Juan Valdez in China.

The exhibits will also include Lök chocolate, a high-end brand founded by South America's only female chocolate master Maria Carolina Angulo.

The pavilion will host lively folk-dance performances, professional coffee cupping sessions, and food tastings, offering a comprehensive experience of Colombia's cultural heritage and innovative spirit.

UAE: Tradition, Modernity, and Cultural Heritage

The United Arab Emirates will demonstrate its industrial characteristics and development vitality at the CIIE, highlighting its comprehensive advantages as a regional economic hub and building a platform for UAE institutions and enterprises to connect with the Chinese market.

The design of its national pavilion draws inspiration from local traditional architectural elements and color aesthetics to create a display space with both cultural recognition and visual appeal, while integrating the UAE's values of "hospitality, openness and inclusiveness, innovation, and creation."

The pavilion will showcase the UAE's latest well-known landmarks, such as the Museum of the Future, and old town styles through pictures, models, and multimedia, presenting the UAE's development and changes from tradition to modernity.

Government organizations in the UAE's economy, business, and tourism sectors are working together with top companies in finance and logistics to take part in the exhibition, highlighting the UAE's progress and services in new areas.

During this expo, UAE artists will bring the national treasure art – Al Ayala, the UAE's national dance and a UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage – to the central stage. Al Ayala is usually performed at important occasions such as UAE national celebrations, weddings, and welcome ceremonies. Performed by 20-30 dancers, mainly men, in traditional Kandura robes and Ghutra headscarves, the dance symbolizes tribal unity and courage, adding a vivid cultural touch to the expo.

Nigeria: Resource Endowments and Investment Opportunities

Nigeria's pavilion, themed "Invest in Nigeria," showcases the African country's economic potential. For Nigeria, the CIIE is not only a grand economic and trade exchange event but also a window to comprehensively showcase its characteristics and opportunities, which is expected to open up broader space for cooperation between Nigeria and other countries.

It features mineral resources such as lithium, lead-zinc, and iron ore – key export products to China.

There will also be high-quality agricultural goods, including sesame, cashew nuts, and shea butter. China, the world's largest sesame importer, is a major market for Nigerian sesame, benefiting local farmers.

Nigeria is the world's third-largest peanut producer, with its output accounting for approximately 10 percent of the global total. Chinese agricultural technicians have delivered technical training for local peanut farmers and provided advanced agricultural machinery and equipment, actively helping boost peanut production and increase farmers' income. In September 2024, China and Nigeria signed a bilateral cooperation document on peanut exports to China, marking an important step in China-Nigeria agricultural cooperation.

The pavilion also highlights Nigeria's natural beauty, such as Victoria Falls, and achievements made in Lagos, the country's economic center, in urban construction and non-energy industries, to attract investment from countries around the world.

A cultural experience zone will display colorful ethnic costumes, reflecting the country's diverse heritage.

Thailand: Celebrating 50 Years of Diplomatic Ties and Future Cooperation

Thailand's pavilion takes "Connecting – 50 Years of Thailand-China Relations, Co-Creating the Future" as its theme, grandly commemorating the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. It integrates exhibition, business negotiations, and cultural experiences across five sections: agriculture, food, fashion, design, as well as tourism and investment opportunities.

The pavilion offers an immersive journey into Thailand's traditions and modernity, emphasizing the long-standing friendship and deepening cooperation between Thailand and China. It serves as a bridge to enhance bilateral exchanges in trade, culture, and tourism.