Cross-Straits fair gets underway

Handicrafts a highlight of State-level expo in Xiamen

The eighth Cross-Straits (Xiamen) Cultural Industries Fair opened on Friday and will last through Monday at the International Exhibition Center in Xiamen, a coastal city in Fujian province in East China.

The fair is the only cultural expo that has "cross-Straits" in its name on the Chinese mainland, according to organizers.

In 2008, 501 companies from both sides of the Taiwan Straits joined the first fair, which was held at Xiamen's Culture and Art Center, covering an area of 20,000 square meters.

The third fair moved to the city's International Exhibition Center, with an area of 32,000 square meters and more than 1,300 booths.

In 2012, the fifth fair was upgraded to a State-level expo, hosted by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Culture and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television. Its area also expanded to 43,000 square meters with 2,200 booths.

In 2014, the seventh fair was crowned as the No 1 cultural fair in the country.

This year's fair, co-organized by the governments of Fujian province and Xiamen as well as the Taiwan-based Asia-Pacific Cultural and Creative Industries Association, promises great improvements in both quality and quantity.

The total exhibition area is 60,000 square meters, 10,000 square meters larger than last year, with more than 3,000 booths. The exhibition area consists of four major sections.

The first of them is for handicraft works. As a key part of the fair, the handicraft works section occupies the majority of the exhibition area, about 40,000 square meters, where more than 1,500 companies showcase their handicraft products.

These companies are divided into categories such as ceramics, wood sculpture and jade sculpture.

The second section is for creative designs, such as industrial designs, art designs and packaging designs.

The fair also serves as a platform for talented designers from both sides of the Straits to exchange expertise and discuss the latest trends.

The third session focuses on digital content and new media.

New games, the latest electronic payment technologies and new media developments are on display in this area.

The film industry is also a highlight this year as the fair presents good opportunities for cross-Straits cooperation in the sector.

The last session is a creative, cultural and tourism products exhibition area, showcasing tourism-related products and books.

A series of activities, such as a competition for the best handicrafts, will also be held during the fair.

As well as the International Exhibition Center, the activities will be held in 23 venues scattered across different parts of Xiamen.

Visitors can check the fair's official website or follow the fair's WeChat account to find out about the latest activities.

humeidong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/31/2015 page18)