ISTANBUL, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Beko is "very impressive" with the just-concluded China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai and will be back "for sure" in the following years, said the China country manager of the Turkish manufacturer of home appliance and consumer electronics.

The CIIE was "very impressive" with a wide variety of innovative and smart products from different parts of the world, Cann Song told Xinhua in an interview by e-mail.

He sees the import fair, the first of its kind ever hosted in China on a state level, as a platform for visitors to connect directly with the manufacturers, get more insight into future products and for the manufacturers to introduce their products and brands to the Chinese market.

"The exhibition did a good job by creating dual-line connection between manufacturers and the Chinese market," he said, calling China a "very promising market" for all foreign companies as the Asian giant keeps a growth rate of more than 6 percent.

The deals worth some 58 billion U.S. dollars signed during the expo show "how powerful the CIIE was," Song said.

"The CIIE in upcoming years will be much more attractive for foreign brands with first-year success and expecting more applications," he added.

A total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations and more than 3,600 enterprises participated in the six-day event, which attracted more than 400,000 domestic and overseas purchasers, according to the organizer.

Beko was "excited" to have thousands of visitors at its booth asking about its brand and innovative products, Song said, noting that his company's wine cellar and a refrigerator customized for the football club Barcelona were "strongly welcomed by customers," as they are "really unique products" in the Chinese market.

"We have met potential customers, distributors for the future at the expo," he remarked. "We believe CIIE will expedite our penetration into the Chinese market."

The Shanghai expo will be held on an annual basis in the years to come, as China is transitioning from an export powerhouse to an import nation.

"We will be here for sure," Song said. "CIIE will be our showcase for our new products, a strong base to meet our new customers and a platform to witness the change in China."

He suggested that the fair be extended to a longer period and focus on different industries.