STA, 4 November - Slovenia will be showcased as a country of advanced technologies and a winter sports destination at China International Import Expo (CIIE) fair opening in Shanghai on Tuesday with Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek on hand.

This is the second time that CIIE is being held at China's financial capital and the second time that Slovenia is being featured at this high-profile fair of consumer and high-tech products and services.

According to the investment and entrepreneurship promotion agency Spirit Slovenija, eleven Slovenian companies will be showcased at the event.

At the national and winter pavilions and the exhibition of Slovenian-made products, the country will be promoted as a country offering high-tech and innovative products and services and as an excellent partner in preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

The fair's opening will be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek arriving in Shanghai from Slovenia for the occasion.

Ahead of the event, Spirit Slovenija director Ajda Cuderman said that Slovenia would like to reduce its trade gap with China, also by tapping on niche industries and technologies which are hard to copy.

"We will be presenting some of Slovenia's cutting-edge technology at the event, and promote Slovenian expertise and Slovenian winter sports companies ahead of the Beijing Games," said Cuderman.

Last year, CIIE featured 3,000 companies from 130 countries, drawing more than 150,000 Chinese buyers.

The Slovenian pavilion in Shanghai will be designed in a way to relate to the concept of the country's pavilion at the world Expo show in Dubai next year to spark the interest in the upcoming showcase.