4G has changed our lives, but 5G promises to transform the world. In 2020, the next-generation digital technology is playing an important role in driving China's economic growth amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 2020 International Fair for Trade in Services will be held in Beijing at the beginning of September, when 5G will be one of eight industry themes.

5G will feature in two prominent ways.

A special exhibition will allow visitors to sample the full experience in a "miniature 5G world" of about 2,000 square meters. It promises an interactive and immersive experience that includes "smart city" and "smart consumption" areas.

Meanwhile, the 5G Communication Services Forum will invite representatives from leading international enterprises, as well as various experts, to discuss the profound impact the technology is expected to have on the global trade in services.

"At present, Beijing is trying to speed up the construction of new infrastructure, including 5G," said Wang De, director of the Electronics Department at the Beijing Bureau of Economy and Information Technology. "By the end of July, there were more than 24,000 5G base stations, with a planned total exceeding 30,000 by the end of the year."

One is stationed in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone, an initiative in a southeastern suburb of the Chinese capital. Authorities say it's fully focused on building a 5G industry with global influence.

The deputy director of the zone's Business Cooperation Bureau, Yan Ying, said basic support capacity for the application of 5G on a major scale is leading the way. At present, Yizhuang Base, a national demonstration area for smart cars and smart transportation, has been built. And the world's first vehicle-to-everything urban road in a complex megacity with tidal lanes has also been built.

As the coronavirus pandemic rages across the world, entire economies are crumbling, borders are closing, and protectionism is on the rise. But many believe 5G has the power to bring us closer together, by increasing interconnectivity, facilitating collaboration and furthering the development of trade in services.

And all of that will be on show next month in Beijing, where industry leaders have vowed to share the fruits of an unfolding revolution.