The 14th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO) was held in Qingdao on January 11. China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Vice Chairman Wang Jinzhen, Deputy Mayor of Qingdao Liu Jianjun, Researcher at Department of Trade in Service and Commercial Service of the Ministry of Commerce of China Hu Hanming, President of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry Corrado Peraboni, President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) David DuBois, Executive Director of Society of Independent Show Organizers（SISO）David Audrain attended the forum. More than 500 representatives from exhibition enterprises, organizations and government departments of 18 countries and regions including the United States, Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan were in attendance.
CEFCO was co-organized by CCPIT, UFI, IAEE and SISO. With the theme of “Embracing Chances”, the forum in 2018 mainly discussed new trends, new opportunities, new models and new driving forces for the development of the exhibition industry under the new situation, aiming at promoting the transformation and upgrading of the exhibition industry and enhancing cooperation at home and abroad.
Wang Jinzhen noted, in recent years, with rapid growth, accelerated adjustment and upgrading in economic structure, China's exhibition industry witnessed a good trend of innovation and prosperity, contributing to China’s economic and social development, and propelling the growth for the global exhibition industry.
“With the continuous reform and opening up, an increased number of Chinese enterprises have fostered outbound trade and investment cooperation. Exhibition has been an important way for Chinese companies to get to know the development trend of China’s exhibition industry, to display advanced technology and products, expand foreign exchanges and cooperation and explore trade and investment opportunities,” added Wang.
Wang Jinzhen said, to speed up the development of China's exhibition economy, we should adhere to the supply-side structural reform, discern the new dynamics and cultivate new types of operations.
“First, put new ideas into practice. While holding the priority of quality and effectiveness, the exhibition industry should devote itself to the transformation and upgrading, adhere to the supply-side structural reform, promote the reforms in quality, efficiency and driving forces and constantly enhance innovation and competitiveness. Second, grasp the new trend. Along with speeding up the process of marketization, specialization, internationalization and informatization, it is necessary to make the exhibition industry with high quality and characteristics, to make differences in the positioning of the exhibitions. Third, explore new type of operation. While accelerating innovation in service, management, market and business pattern, we need to cultivate new type of operation, making exhibition industry a core in promoting economic growth, expanding market consumption, enhancing economic and trade cooperation, increasing employment and promoting urban construction,” said Wang.
Liu Jianjun noted, CEFCO, as an annual event with the largest scale and highest level for the international exhibition industry, has set up a platform for foreign exchange and cooperation in the exhibition industry. This forum, held in Qingdao has contributed to promoting the city’s exchange and cooperation with the world, building Qingdao into a well-known exhibition city in Northeast Asia, and boosting its international cooperation in marine economy, the Belt and Road Initiative, wealth management, health and medical care, advanced manufacturing and other areas.
Corrado Peraboni said, “with the continuous growth, China’s exhibition industry takes the lead worldwide and plays an important role in the global exhibition industry. This forum offers a platform for discussing various fields in the industry and exchanging ideas with delegates from other countries.”
Since founded in 2005, by adhering to the idea of “Openness, Cooperation and Win-win”, CEFCO has devoted to the construction of a platform for exchange and cooperation in exhibition industry at home and abroad. Thirteen sessions have been successfully held in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Macao and other cities. A total of 7,800 representatives at home and abroad in renowned exhibition enterprises, industry organizations, professional media, research institutions and authorities have participated. It has now become the third major professional forum in the world.
The forum in 2018 had 4 plenary sessions, 12 group meetings, which include “Exhibition+Transformation”, “Exhibition+Industry” “Cross-industry” sessions, seminars, sharing sessions and other sideline events. The major topics for discussion included the changes in the layout of the industry and investment highlights in the process of the global economic recovery, the role of trade promotion agencies in the promotion of the exhibition industry, the upgrading of the venue construction and management as well as building a renowned exhibition city. Moreover, over 20 sessions were held during the three-day event. The Annual Report on China's Exhibition Industry (2017), compiled by CCPIT was also officially released during the forum.
