Conference on the Development of China Exhibition Industry was held on the afternoon of May 28, during the First China (Beijing) International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Assistant Minister of Commerce Qiu Hong attended the Conference and gave a keynote speech with the theme of “Transforming Mode and Making Innovations to Promote the Healthy and Orderly Development of China’s Exhibition Industry”.

Ms. Qiu Hong said that, in recent years, China’s Exhibition Industry has been developing fast, with exhibition scale expanding, exhibition hall construction booming, industrial clustering strengthened, and innovative modes emerging. In 2011, totally 6,800 exhibitions with over 5,000 square meters were held nationwide, up by 9.2% year on year. By the end of 2011, the overall areas of the exhibition halls with over 5,000 square meters indoor exhibition areas reached 47.5 thousand square meters, accounting for 15% of the global total.

Ms. Qiu pointed out that, government departments have joined efforts in strengthening industrial administration, perfecting policy system, promoting the marketization and specialization of exhibitions, and improving industrial norms and standards. The Ministry of Commerce issued Guiding Opinions on the Development of Exhibition Industry during the 12th Five-Year Plan, jointly researched and formulated a batch of policy measures of promoting the development of exhibition industry with other government departments, actively advanced the progress of marketization of exhibition activities, and advocated moderately adjusting government-controlling exhibitions, and guided the development of comprehensive, regional exhibitions into specialization development.

Ms. Qiu said that, the 12th Five-Year Plan period is crucial for China’s construction of a moderately prosperous society, and is a good opportunity for innovative development of China’s exhibition industry. Sticking to the principles of integrating resources, developing complementary advantages, increasing quality, and controlling total amount, with the goals of marketization, specialization, internationalization and institutionalization, and focusing on innovation in administrative system, operation concepts, supporting measures, and serving modes, MOFCOM will actively create a sound developing environment, give special support to the development of brand exhibitions, pay attention to industrial planning and scientific pattern, give full play to industrial associations, value the talent cultivation and introduction, and strengthen international cooperation and exchanges, so as to promote the healthy and orderly development of China’s exhibition industry.

Totally 300 representatives from domestic major exhibition cities, domestic and foreign exhibition enterprises, and industrial associations attended the Conference.