Art to give cultural touch to sixth CIIE

Thanks to duty-free policy, 135 pieces of art valued at more than 1 billion yuan ($136 million) will vie with products, brands, services, technologies and content for the limelight at the upcoming sixth China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

Globally known auctioneers Christie's, Sotheby's and Phillips, by now regular CIIE participants, are expected to wield their gavels as masterpieces by Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and Zhang Daqian will be on display or sale at this year's expo, which will open on Sunday and close on Nov 10.

Pace Gallery, a prominent player in the international contemporary art scene, will make its CIIE debut with two sculptures by US artists Louise Nevelson (1899-1988) and Jeff Koons, 68.