The 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), set to be held in Beijing in September, has completed 93 percent of the expanded exhibition area for the comprehensive exhibition and special exhibitions.
This year's CIFTIS will be held from Sept 12 to 16 at the National Convention Center and Shougang Park, a sprawling industrial park turned iconic attraction. With the theme of "Global Services, Shared Prosperity", the fair will cover topics such as supply chain and business services, telecommunications, computer and information services.
"This year, the CIIE has intensified its efforts in promotion and attracting business and exhibitors at home and abroad, inviting more Fortune 500, specialized and new enterprises and unicorn enterprises. Currently, 93 percent of the exhibition area expanded for comprehensive exhibitions and special exhibitions have been completed. 72 countries and international organizations have decided to set up offline exhibitions in the name of national governments or headquarters," said Zhou Ling, deputy director of the Beijing International Service Trade Affairs Center.
Organizers said at a press conference held in Beijing on Monday that this year's event will focus on the country's new quality productive forces, referring to innovation-led development to promote high-quality growth.
"We'll emphasize new quality productive forces and create specialized exhibits. The high-level design showcase will focus on innovation, featuring the latest achievements in digital, smart and green services trade," said Ai Yinfang, deputy director of Beijing China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges.
The fair will also host the Global Trade in Services Summit, reinforcing a commitment to openness and serving as an international platform for public exchanges.
Organizers said the fair will offer wide-ranging services for international attendees, providing one-stop solutions for transportation, payments, dining, and more.
They also emphasized that everything is on track for the exhibitions. As a flagship project of China's opening up, the organizers believe this year's event will focus even more on boosting cross-border collaboration and creating a better future through shared services.
Expanded exhibition area nearly complete for China's foremost services trade fair
Chinese expatriates and residents in Myanmar have volunteered to coordinate large-scale relief operations to communities affected by a devastating earthquake in Mandalay, the second largest city in the country.
The 7.5-magnitude quake, which struck central Myanmar on Saturday, has left 1,700 killed, 3,400 injured and 300 missing, according to the Sunday statement from the country's State Administration Council.
Chinese nationals residing in Myanmar swiftly organized aid networks, establishing over a dozen volunteer groups and fund-raising channels to deliver critical supplies to hard-hit regions, including Mandalay.
Relief materials, including drinking water, food, and medical supplies, have been gathered in Yangon, the capital, which serves as the main hub for collecting donations. Local residents began donating these items on Saturday, with plans to transport them to disaster zones as early as Monday.
Many overseas Chinese living in Yangon drove more than 10 hours overnight to deliver supplies, such as antiseptics, gloves and N95 masks, to rescue teams in Mandalay. Many restaurants offered free meals to rescue workers.
The journey to Mandalay has been challenging due to severe damage to roads, with some routes taking more than 10 hours instead of the usual seven.
"Normally it takes seven or eight hours, but now it's a detour that could cost a dozen hours. We didn't suffer big loss. We just do some delivery errands, the least we can contribute. Others have made relatively great contributions. We didn't help much. What's important is to get the supplies there in time," said Li Chengyuan, head of a Rangoon-based logistics company.
Despite the logistical hurdles, the Yangon market remains well-stocked, allowing for the procurement of necessary items at normal prices.
Nevertheless, essential services such as power supply and communications in disaster-hit areas like Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw have not yet returned to normal, complicating rescue efforts further.
Large rescue machinery is still struggling to enter disaster-hit areas due to the poor road condition between Yangon and Mandalay.
Relief supplies were rushed to the earthquake-stricken areas. On Saturday, China's Yunnan Province launched an emergency response mechanism to prepare tents, blankets, foldable beds and other relief supplies, with the first batch of supplies arriving in Myanmar on Saturday by air.
Chinese volunteers channel relief material shipment to quake-hit Mandalay
