On the morning of August 6, 2025, the press conference for the First Global Geographical Indication Products Expo (hereinafter referred to as "GIPE 2025") was held at the China Germany Plaza in Shunyi District, Beijing. The event was attended by Yang Pengbo, Director of the Shunyi District Bureau of Commerce; Pan Feng, Vice Chairman of the China-Europe Association for Technical Economic and Cooperation (CEATEC) and Chairman of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC); Zhou Xiaoyan, Executive Vice President of the China Council for International Investment Promotion and former Director of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce; and Catalin Sirop, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Romania to China. They introduced the event and answered questions from the press.

During the conference, Yang Pengbo highlighted that Shunyi District, as a key new city on the plains of the capital, is currently focusing on international development. The district is prioritizing the construction of an airport economic pilot zone and an international city integrating industry and urban development. Efforts are being made to create a “5+4” industrial system, develop four key industrial functional areas, and enhance livability and workability. Hosting the Expo in Shunyi will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the district and European political and business circles, providing an important bridge for expanding the China-Germany Industrial Park network. It will also stimulate local consumption in sectors such as dining, accommodation, and transportation, boosting general consumption. Additionally, it will help enhance the international influence of Shunyi's enterprises and products, and promote the Shunyi as a brand.

Zhou Xiaoyan noted that the China Council for International Investment Promotion has been deeply engaged in international investment and economic cooperation for many years, working to build multi-lateral and bi-lateral trade bridges. With the increasing demand from Chinese consumers for high-quality geographical indication products, this represents an opportunity for domestic consumption upgrades and a key approach for implementing the Ministry of Commerce's consumer promotion policies. The Ministry of Commerce's recent initiatives, such as the "Consumption Boost Year" and the "Three Products" strategy, have provided clear guidance on how geographical indication products can meet market demand. By leveraging its resource advantages, the association aims to promote these policies through the Expo, introducing more high-quality geographical indication products to consumers and facilitating the integration of domestic and international products with China's ever-growing and upgrading consumer market.

Pan Feng pointed out that this year marks both the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, and the fourth anniversary of the formal entry into force of the “China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement.” Against this backdrop and in alignment with the central government’s strategic directives, GIPE 2025 has been launched, building upon the success of the previous three Global Geographical Indications Products Expos and officially rebranded as the International Geographical Indication Products Expo. Held in Shunyi District, Beijing, GIPE 2025 leverages its strategic location advantage and partners with Romania as the guest of honor to create a platform for China-EU geographical indication products to achieve mutual recognition, exchange, and learning, thereby translating national top-level design into local development and practical service to people’s welfare. From the perspectives of industrial stimulation and cultural heritage preservation, the protection of geographical indications and the Expo respond to emerging demands for highquality consumption, thereby establishing a positive cycle of “demand-driven consumption, industrial upgrading, and cultural inheritance.” Supported by the China–EU Geographical Indications Agreement, highquality agricultural products have achieved twoway interchange and mutual recognition, actively promoting regional industrial revitalization and winwin cooperation between China and Europe. This “regional common prosperity through international cooperation” model—anchored in geographical indications—has taken root globally, bursting with vitality, and contributes wisdom and strength to rural development worldwide.

Catalin Sirop emphasized that, as a member of the European Union, Romania is committed to further developing its economic and trade relations with the People’s Republic of China based on the principles of reciprocity, transparency, openness and fairness—principles that support the depoliticization of trade. According to 2024 statistics, the People’s Republic of China is Romania’s major trading partner in Asia, ranking first in imports and second in exports, second only to Japan. Considering that China holds the largest trade deficit among Romania’s major trading partners, according to the 2024 statistics, the bilateral merchandise trade volume between China and Romania reached 9.28 billion US dollars, with exports totaling 779 million US dollars and imports totaling 8.5 billion US dollars. Catalin firmly believes that events like GIPE 2025 will provide an excellent platform for Chinese consumers to discover high-quality and distinctive Romanian agricultural products. Such events will have a positive impact and promote increased exports of Romanian products to the People’s Republic of China.

GIPE 2025 will be held from September 19 to 21 at Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center in Shunyi District, Beijing. Organized by the China Council for International Investment Promotion, with key support from the People’s Government of Shunyi District and the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, the Expo will feature Romania as the guest of honor. Under the theme “Geographical Indications Driving High-Quality Consumption,” the expo will showcas a range of exhibition halls including the Guest of Honor: Romania Pavilion, the EU-China GI Pavilion, as well as National and Provincial Pavilions. A series of events will be held concurrently, including the opening ceremony of the First International Geographical Indication Products Expo, the Seminar on China–EU Geographical Indications Legal Systems and Branding, and the opening ceremonies of national pavilions such as Romania, Chinese provincial and specialty pavilions. The International Geographical Indication Products Expo serves as a global platform for promoting geographical indication product trade, technological exchange, information sharing, cultural integration, and investment promotion between China and other countries. The Expo aims to thoroughly implement strategic plans for the high-quality development of geographical indication products, strengthen intellectual property protection, and foster the high-quality development of the geographical indications sector.