In his congratulatory letter to the Fair in 2022, President Xi Jinping noted that CIFTIS was a key platform for China to expand opening up, deepen cooperation and lead innovation. Under the theme of Opening up Leads Development, Cooperation Delivers the Future, the 2023 edition will play a key role in three areas. First, it will promote the high-level opening up of trade in services. This edition will provide an important window for all to explore new ideas, trends and pathways for the open development of services and trade in services. Second, it will deepen practical cooperation on services trade, with a focus on international cooperation and on-site activities and continued participation of trading missions for more practical outcomes. Third, it will activate the innovation dynamics for services trade by further underlining the pioneering role of science and technology, model and business type innovation to renew the momentum and motivation for trade in services.

Currently, the preparations for the Fair are ready. This edition will feature an expanded business exhibition. A total of 2400 companies will attend on site, including over 500 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry champions, with a exhibition area of 155,000 square meters, all greater than the last edition. The exhibitors are more global and specialized. With 59 countries and 24 international organizations setting up stalls, 12 more than last year, the Fair’s global content will exceed 20%. The Fair will also see the release of authoritative outcomes, such as the Report on the Development of China’s Services Trade and the Report on the Development of World Tourism Cities.

You are welcome to cover the event. Thank you.