SHANGHAI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Over 1,000 new companies will attend the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) slated to take place this November, according to the organizer Wednesday.

The second CIIE is widely welcomed by companies across the globe, and continues to be an attractive platform for Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders to exhibit their latest products, said Tian Ye, an official with the exhibition department of the CIIE.

Eli Lilly and Company, a U.S. leading pharmaceutical company to attend this year's CIIE for the first time, will showcase its latest technologies and medicines for diabetes, oncology and autoimmune diseases, said Julio Gay-ger, president of Lilly China.

China is the second largest market of Skechers, a leading U.S. sports brand, and is expected to become the biggest in the following three to five years, said Tommy Wang with Skechers China. "Skechers will launch its latest sneakers at the coming CIIE."

A total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations participated in the first CIIE last year. The second CIIE will be held in Shanghai this November.