Multinational companies are fighting their way to Jiangsu's Kunshan city for the China Import Expo which kicks off today.

The 2014 expo promises to be bigger and better than the past two editions of the show. This year the exhibition and negotiation area covers 80,000 square meters, 30 percent larger than the previous event. The expo is divided into designated parts to showcase metal processing and automation, new materials for environment protection and consumer brand products. Nearly 700 international companies from more than 40 countries and regions worldwide have confirmed their attendance at the expo, which will be held from May 14 to 17.

Visitors will get first hand experience of cutting-edge machine manufacturing including a digitally controlled lathe, robots and mechanical arms. "Some major former participants also attended the expo, such as Japan-based Okuma and Mitsubishi and US-based Haas Automation," said officials from the expo organizing committee. The expo has played an important role in China's sales of Haas, a leading global lathe producer, who attended the previous two events. "Haas only made 10 million yuan ($1.63 million) in Kunshan in 2011, then 36 million yuan in 2012 and 120 million yuan in 2013, thanks to its participation in......

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