(Yicai Global) May 14 -- A promotional event for the first China International Import Expo was held in Auckland, New Zealand on May 11, at which an official from the country's foreign affairs and trade ministry said New Zealand will attend the fair to be held in Shanghai in November with diverse exhibits.

Registration has opened for only two days, but over 40 companies have already confirmed their attendance and another 40-plus have shown interest, among them Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd. and Zespri International Ltd., two leading New Zealand agricultural companies, who will each set up an exhibition hall, the unidentified official said, as state Xinhua News Agency reported.

The expo will show the world China's sincerity and determination in furthering reform and opening and China's efforts to set up a new platform to boost international cooperation, high-level dialog and free trade, and showcase its high-quality economic development, said Xu Erwen, the country's consul general in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland.

China's two-way trade with New Zealand has risen threefold over the past decade to NZD26 billion (USD18 billion) from NZD6.8 billion with trade set to reach NZD30 billion by 2020, Xu said.

New Zealand companies have signed up for over 1,000 square meters of booth area, said Huang Yuefeng, commercial counselor with the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand. His office will promote the expo and work with New Zealand's trade authorities and chambers of commerce to enable local companies and people to better understand China and its determination to actively expand its opening.

Editor: Ben Armour