In the Trade in Services hall at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), a colossal blue and white ship looms over a sea of companies vying for attention from potential Chinese clients.

This impressive booth doesn't belong to an ocean cargo company, but Standard Chartered, a UK-headquartered financial services firm that is celebrating its 160th anniversary of doing business in China this year.

The ship “has a deep meaning behind it,” the company's Regional Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand and Marketing Esmond Mok told CGTN, explaining how the design harks back to the company's roots in cross-border trade, as well as its current position as “the Belt and Road bank,” particularly along the Maritime Silk Road route.

Mok said Standard Chartered was attending the CIIE because it “is such a significant event,” with the company using the expo to “demonstrate our long-term commitment to China.”

Explaining further about Standard Chartered's role in the Belt and Road Initiative, Mok pointed to the company's long history in China and presence in more than 60 markets around the world, with a "unique global footprint" in emerging markets, Africa and the Middle East.

With Standard Chartered establishing its first branch in Shanghai 160 years ago, Mok said that the company is now looking ahead to a “future that is all about digital,” with the bank embracing new technology and innovations to meet the demands of its clients. 

(Video by Zhou Jinxi)