Face｜China works hard to open up global trade, says Canadian businessman

Canadian Kapil Kalra's first trip to China was an exciting one. As a businessman, he recently attended the fifth China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan and was pleased to see that China has been working hard to open up global trade to many countries, and that the relationship between Canada and China is strengthening on all levels, including business.

Kalra is the co-founder of a company called naturemary, which focuses on body-care, natural skincare, and beauty products. During his time at the expo, Kalra had fruitful meetings with many businessmen from different countries, and he is confident that he will be able to make deals with "some very good buyers" in the near future.

Kalra told China Youth Daily in an interview that the Chinese market is great, it is huge and consumers are always looking for natural remedies and products. He believed that his company's products and business philosophy are a perfect fit for the Chinese market.

Kapil Kalra was in front of the booth at the fifth China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan. Photo by Interviewee

Hosting international exhibitions such as the China International Consumer Products Expo is just one of China's initiatives to open up its vast market. Kalra also mentioned that the Hainan Free Trade Port has introduced a number of very favourable and convenient cross-border trade tax policies to attract many foreign companies to invest and do business in China, which gives many Canadian companies the opportunity to introduce their brands and products to China.

As protectionism rises around the world, creating economic headwinds, China is doubling down on opening its doors and positioning itself as a stabilizing force in an increasingly fractured global economy.

Although this is Kalra's first visit to China, his company already has many different trading partners in China, and the packaging process of his company's products is also done in China. In fact, this is a glimpse of the deep integration of industrial and supply chains of different countries in the context of economic glocalization. "I do a lot of business with China, so it's wonderful to come here and really be involved in the market," said Kalra. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)