MORE than 1,700 companies from across the world have applied to attend the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November. Over 900 applicants have signed contracts for the expo. Among them, 34 percent of enterprises are from the Belt and Road countries and regions. The import expo “shows China’s determination of opening-up and is set to be a launch place for the newest products,” said Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the China International Import Expo Bureau.