On November 6, at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), COFCO Group led its specialized subsidiaries in signing agreements with global partners to procure high-quality agricultural products and specialty foods, with total contracts exceeding 10 billion yuan. As a key organizer of the global agricultural supply chain, COFCO has participated in every CIIE since its inception eight years ago, demonstrating its commitment to "turning China's vast market into a global opportunity."

This year, COFCO elevated its cooperation with global partners, achieving breakthroughs in both product categories and partnership breadth while expanding and enhancing its collaborative network. The group renewed ties with long-standing partners such as ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus Company, continuing the strong relationships established since the first CIIE. COFCO Sugar maintained its partnership with Brazilian suppliers to import premium raw sugar, meeting growing domestic demand for refined sugar and high-end food processing. Additionally, COFCO Textile signed agreements to purchase 100,000 tons of cotton from multiple suppliers, enriching domestic textile raw material options and boosting industrial competitiveness while stabilizing global supply chains. These enduring partnerships embody CIIE's spirit of "openness, symbiosis, and win-win cooperation," injecting confidence and momentum into the global agricultural sector.

COFCO also explored new collaborations, sourcing agricultural products from Belt and Road countries and emerging markets to bring diverse global goods to Chinese consumers. This year, the group signed wheat import agreements covering seven countries, broadening supply channels for premium wheat and offering more options for domestic baking and flour industries. It actively procured agricultural products from Brazil, Argentina, Australia, France, Canada, and other nations, fulfilling CIIE's vision of "buying globally, benefiting the world."

Responding to rising consumer demand for healthier and higher-quality food, COFCO optimized its global procurement strategy at this year's CIIE, driving upgrades in dining consumption. Its subsidiary COFCO Wine & Spirits ventured into the health beverage sector by partnering with Thailand's IFBH Group to introduce INNOCOCO natural coconut water, diversifying its product portfolio. The subsidiary also deepened ties with renowned wineries like Treasury Wine Estates, Italy's Cavit, and Chile's Viña Seña to bring premium wines to China. Additionally, COFCO added New Zealand’s high-quality cheddar cheese and other dairy products to its procurement list, enriching domestic protein sources.

"Every contract we sign connects the hard work of global producers with Chinese consumers' aspirations for a better life," said Qing Lijun, COFCO's deputy general manager. "We will continue leveraging CIIE as a high-level platform for openness, exploring innovative approaches to grain trade, optimizing global supply chains, and contributing to a more stable, efficient, and inclusive global food system."