On August 19, 2022, the Second RCEP (Shandong) Import Expo was opened in Linyi City, Shandong Province. Mr. Hou Xiaobin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Linyi Municipal Committee and Mayor of Linyi City, presided over the opening ceremony. Mr. Ren Gang, Secretary of the CPC Linyi Municipal Committee, Mr. Zhang Deping, Secretary of Leading Party Group and Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, and Mr. Sam Sorphorn, Consul General of Cambodia in Ji’nan, delivered speeches. Mr. Jiang Cheng, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, announced the opening of the Expo. More than 200 representatives from Chinese ministries, government departments of Shandong Province and Linyi City, Embassies and Consulates of RCEP member states and other foreign countries in China, enterprises, think tanks and media attended the opening ceremony.

Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), sent a congratulatory letter to the Expo, stating that with the strengthening of the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership, exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Shandong Province have been vigorously carried out and harvested fruitful outcomes. The formal entry-into-force of RCEP will provide new vitality for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation and promoting common development among regional countries. ACC will continue to fully play the bridging role to actively support, publicise and participate in friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields between Shandong Province, Linyi City and AMS, and make a greater contribution to building a closer ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Second RCEP (Shandong) Import Expo is supported by ACC, hosted by the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial Government, and the Linyi Municipal Government, and organised by the Linyi Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the Foreign Affairs Office of Linyi Municipal Government, and the Lanshan District Government. Under the theme of “New Era, New Pattern, New Platform, New Opportunities”, the Expo will last three days, including RCEP International Pavilion, RCEP Brand Products Pavilion and High Quality Import Products Pavilion, with a total exhibition area of 25,000 square meters, equivalent to 1,200 international standard booths. During the Expo, a series of activities will be held such as the RCEP Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Forum, the Second RCEP (Shandong) International Cooperation and Exchange Meeting, the Second RCEP Live Broadcasting Purchasing Meeting for RCEP Featured Products, the Local Product Park Promotion Event, and the Linyi Import Commodities City Purchasing Festival.