The 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) will start on Saturday in Beijing. Before CIFTIS gets underway, have a look at CGTN's graphics for some key information. 

The 2023 CIFTIS will be held at China National Convention Center and Shougang Park from September 2 to 6, with a total exhibition area of about 155,000 square meters. 

Themed "Opening-up for Better Development, Cooperation for Win-Win Future," the event features increased internationalization with the participation of more than 2,400 companies offline, including over 500 Global top 500 companies and industry-leading enterprises. 

This year's thematic exhibitions will cover telecommunications, computers and information, finance, culture and tourism, education, sport, supply chain and business, engineering consulting and construction, health and environmental services, according to a press conference for the fair. 

The 2023 CIFTIS is expected to feature over 200 events, including a global service trade summit, exhibitions, forums, business promotion conferences and supportive activities, said Sima Hong, vice-mayor of Beijing. 

Significantly, during the fair, the United Nations will host a signing ceremony for the Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships as well as a forum to guide the formulation of relevant international rules, with attendees from nearly 60 countries. Also, the promotion for "Invest in China Year" will be held for the first time during the fair. 

China is stepping up its opening-up endeavors to revive its services trade amid a complex and severe external environment, with total value of services trade climbing 8.5 percent year on year to 3.14 trillion yuan (about $430 billion) in the first half of this year, according to Ministry of Commerce of China. 

As China has deepened the opening of its services sector, it is expected that the scale of services trade will maintain growth throughout the year, and its trade structure will continue to optimize, said Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce. 

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Graphics: China revives services trade in its opening-up endeavors