The recruitment for the eighth China International Import Expo Cultural and Artworks Zone has now commenced. On April 22, the Shanghai Free Trade Zone Cultural Industry Promotion Conference CIIE special session was held at the Shanghai International Artworks Bonded Service Center.
Representatives from companies such as Christie’s, China Guardian Auctions, Poly Auction, Galleria Continua, Pearl Lam Galleries, and V-Muse, along with several private collectors, engaged in in-depth discussions on the topic of "leveraging the dual advantages of FTZ policies and the CIIE platform to facilitate the smooth entry of overseas artworks into China."
As an official partner in exhibition recruitment for CIIE, the Shanghai FTZ International Culture Investment Development Co Ltd, a subsidiary of the Waigaoqiao Group, has facilitated the transaction of 172 cultural and artwork pieces over the past four editions, with a total transaction value exceeding 2.2 billion yuan (US$301.37 million).
Yao Junjie, vice president of Christie’s China, said that in 2024, Christie’s became one of the first members of the Shanghai International Artworks Trading Service Center and hosted its first in-country art auction. Since 2021, Christie’s has participated in the CIIE Cultural and Artworks Zone for three consecutive years and will closely monitor the expo’s preparations, aiming to rejoin the CIIE "family" once again.
Hu Huanzhong, deputy general manager of Waigaoqiao Group and chairman of Shanghai FTZ International Culture Investment, highlighted that in the first quarter of 2025, the three major platforms developed and operated by Waigaoqiao Group—the Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone, Waigaoqiao Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and Pudong Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone—achieved a total import-export volume of 294.25 billion yuan, maintaining their position at the top among China’s special customs supervision zones. Shanghai FTZ International Culture Investment will provide end-to-end professional services to assist global enterprises in expanding their presence in the Chinese market.
