BEIJING — The third China International Import Expo (CIIE) plans to double the size of its medicine and medical equipment section from that of last year's event, and nearly 60 Fortune 500 companies and industry giants have signed up for the section, an official said on April 9.

Over 80 percent of the planned area for this section has been booked, Gao Feng, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, told a press briefing.

The section will display items such as drugs, medical equipment, elderly care, health food and medical services. A few companies will present epidemic control products including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, invasive and non-invasive ventilators, thermometers and protective face masks, said Gao.

More than 1,000 exhibitors worldwide have signed up for the third CIIE scheduled to be held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10, occupying 60 percent of the exhibit space.