The 2024 edition of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which opened on September 12, drew to a close on Monday in Beijing.
The signature comprehensive trade fair saw close to 1000 outcomes, including deals and investments, achieved across seven key categories, predominantly in the fields of construction, finance, and business services, according to the fair's organizing committee.
The five-day event saw the participation of 2,000 companies offline, and over 6,000 companies online. As of noon Monday, the fair had drawn nearly 242,000 attendees, including over 100,000 professional visitors, a 20 percent increase from the previous year.
Shougang Park, a venue of CIFTIS 2024, Beijing, China, September 14, 2024. /CFP
Record international presence
Notably, international presence at this year's CIFTIS has reached new heights. The overall international representation among offline exhibitors surpassed 20 percent, featuring more than 460 companies from the Fortune Global 500 and leading industry players. A record 85 countries and international organizations set up exhibits and hosted events, with 13 of them participating independently for the first time.
The thematic exhibition on telecommunications, computer & information services at CIFTIS 2024, Beijing, China, September 13, 2024. /CFP
A concentrated showcase of smart services
A strong focus on smart and innovative services was among the highlights of this year's fair. With an emphasis on fostering new quality productive forces, cutting-edge technologies in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, metaverse, and 6G were showcased. In addition, over 200 integrated innovative results related to digital, intelligent, and green services were unveiled throughout the event.
Press conference on the closing of CIFTIS 2024, Beijing, China, September 16, 2024. /CIFTIS organizing committee
Wang Bo, deputy director of the department of trade in services and commercial services at the Ministry of Commerce, emphasized the pivotal role of CIFTIS in expanding openness, deepening cooperation, and driving innovation. He reaffirmed China's commitment to leveraging the trading platform to accelerate the high-quality development of services trade and enhance global cooperation, at a press conference marking the conclusion of this year's event.