International Online Report (Reporter Hu Xiaowei): The 6th China International Consumer Goods Expo (Consumer Expo) is being held in Haikou. As the "first exhibition" of my country's major exhibitions in the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan", and also the "first show" after the Hainan Free Trade Port closed in December 2025, this year's Consumer Expo attracted more than 3,400 brands from more than 60 countries and regions to participate in the exhibition. International exhibits accounted for 65%, an increase of 20 percentage points from the previous session, and the level of internationalization was further improved. At the exhibition site, foreign guests from Ireland, Italy and other countries said in exclusive interviews with international online reporters that the potential of China's ultra-large-scale consumer market continues to be released, and the Hainan Free Trade Port is becoming an important gateway connecting international brands and the Chinese market, bringing key development opportunities to companies from various countries.
Mu Barry, deputy director of the Irish Embassy in China, said that Ireland has continued to participate in the Consumer Expo since 2021, and organized 9 companies to participate in the exhibition this year, focusing on displaying superior products in agricultural products, biomedical technology, logistics and transportation and other fields. He pointed out that China is one of the world's largest consumer markets and has always maintained strong demand for high value-added, sustainable and innovative products, providing Irish companies with broad development space.
Mubarui pays close attention to the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port in all dimensions. He believes that through policy support such as tax incentives, Hainan provides convenient conditions for foreign companies and also provides an important window for entering the Chinese market. Especially in the medical field, a series of new regulations introduced by Hainan are highly attractive to Irish medical technology companies.
From a more macro level, Mubari pointed out that expanding domestic demand is the key to economic growth in countries around the world. China is currently accelerating consumption growth, and this strategic direction is of great significance. China has become Ireland's largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade volume exceeding US$20 billion for five consecutive years and maintaining a good growth momentum. He looks forward to using platforms such as the Consumer Expo to further enhance Ireland's national image, promote the connection between Irish companies and Chinese partners, and develop China, a huge market that is "equivalent to the entire Europe."
Largeno, chairman of the Sino-Italian Economic, Trade and Cultural Exchange and Cooperation Platform "Sino-Italian Living Room", said that European companies' perception of China is changing. China is no longer just a manufacturing and re-export base, but a fast-growing and dynamic consumer market. Hainan Free Trade Port is becoming a new important hub that can serve as a cutting-edge platform connecting international brands with the Chinese market. In his view, Hainan's appeal lies not only in policy advantages such as tax incentives, but also in its unique positioning as an international tourism consumption center. The huge flow of tourists provides enterprises with opportunities to directly reach consumers, and also facilitates further expansion into core markets such as Beijing and Shanghai.
When talking about future trends, Blue Geno pointed out that as China’s consumption continues to upgrade, its market attractiveness will be further enhanced. European companies need to rethink their positioning, find suitable business models, and actively participate in the Chinese market in an environment where challenges and opportunities coexist.
