China's 2024 services trade fair captivates public with latest tech offerings

The 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) opened its doors to the public on Sunday. 

The two major exhibition areas, the China National Convention Center and the Shougang Park, are offering free entry to visitors until Monday.   CIFTIS, now in its fourth day, has already hosted 158 forums and conferences, attracting nearly 150,000 attendees in the first three days. The public opening day saw a surge of interest in the latest technological advancements, innovations, and applications.

Among the highlights were models of the tunnel boring machine used in the world's longest underwater high-speed rail tunnel, and a self-driving high-speed train.

Immersive experiences at various exhibition areas are also providing visitors with a more engaging and interactive experience.

"It feels like something out of an animated movie. It's really fun,” said one visitor.

Cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality are taking visitors on a captivating journey through the world of cultural innovation.

Many booths have also incorporated Mid-Autumn Festival themes as Sunday coincided with the first day of the festival holiday, with some offering the festival's special snack mooncakes.

CIFTIS will continue to host 21 forums and conferences on Sunday, with 15 new achievements to be released, covering areas such as telecommunications, computer and information services, and healthcare services.

Over 450 Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders, as well as representatives from 85 countries and international organizations, are participating in the five-day event, which opened on Thursday under the theme "Global Services, Shared Prosperity."

China's 2024 services trade fair captivates public with latest tech offerings

China's express delivery sector maintained stable operations during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from Sunday to Tuesday, handling over 2.7 billion parcels, according to data released by the State Post Bureau on Wednesday.

Of the total, 1.307 billion parcels were collected during the holiday, marking a year-on-year growth of 35.4 percent in terms of the daily collection volume.

The number of parcels delivered totaled 1.407 billion during that period, with the delivery volume expanding by 45.7 percent year on year.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, family members always send special festival purchases to each other, which is believed to one of the factors contributing to the growth of the express delivery industry.

"Through their efficient and convenient services, express delivery enriches consumers' shopping choices, fosters market diversification, and boosts consumer demand, bringing new vitality to the holiday economy. Additionally, the express delivery sector has been well integrated with the cultural and tourism market by delivering related products. This not only improves the travel experience, but also helps stimulate the economy of tourist destinations, fostering local economic growth and cultural development," said Wang Yuehan, director of State Postal Bureau's development and research center.

China sees over 2.7 bln parcels handled during Mid-Autumn Festival holiday