Expo makes big push to lure foreign firms

Nation's biggest oceanic exhibition slated to host 33 countries and regions

The 2015 China Marine Economy Expo, to be held in the port city of Zhanjiang later this month, is expected to build a new platform for Sino-foreign business and trade cooperation, according to the expo's organizing committee.

China's biggest oceanic exhibition, the 2015 CMEE will showcase the country's latest developments in marine economy, which is actively seeking to expand international cooperation, organizers said.

The event is the only national-level trade show organized by the State Oceanic Administration, which is hosting the show together with the Guangdong provincial government.

The expo will take place at the Zhanjiang Olympics Sports Center from Nov 26 to 29 and will demonstrate China's latest achievements in marine energy resources, marine science and technology, ocean environmental protection, marine culture, marine tourism and ocean military technology.

Major State-owned companies, including Baosteel, State Power Investment Corp, the Poly Group, China General Nuclear Power Group, China National Agricultural Development Group, Chimelong Group, as well as many scientific research institutes and publicly traded companies are slated to participate in the expo and seek out international partners in the marine industry.

This year marks the China-ASEAN Year of Maritime Cooperation and the expo's organizing committee has invited ASEAN countries, as well as countries along the proposed 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to take part in the expo.

Thus far, 33 countries and regions have confirmed they will be attending this year's event, according to the organizers, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Seychelles, Israel, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, Italy and South Korea. A total of 1,589 companies will attend, including 163 multinationals - 16 of which are Fortune Global 500 enterprises - and 86 publicly listed companies.

Prominent forums

To help promote international cooperation, special forums and seminars will be held during this year's CMEE, which will cover an exhibition area of more than 200,000 square meters. These include a mayors' summit for marine economy development, an international marine culture and tourism forum, a South China Sea modern fishery development forum and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Ports Forum.

Officials from the Guangdong provincial government and the State Oceanic Administration will deliver speeches at forums, while mayors of Guangzhou, Yantai, Zhoushan, Quanzhou, Beihai and Zhanjiang will have discussions during the mayors' summit on new ideas for their cities' development.

A variety of trade activities such as agreement-signing ceremonies, product launches, project promotions and business matchmaking events will also be held to provide more cooperation opportunities for exhibitors and help them reach investment and trade deals.

A grand space show, the main activity of the military exhibition hall at CMEE, will also be held. It will have four themes: human spaceflight, space activities, trips to the moon and the space industry in the future. It will be divided into four exhibition areas.

Visitors will be able to see the re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou spaceship, an escape tower, rocket engine, spacesuit and other space technology. A large number of space science documents and items about China's first satellite - Dongfanghong-1 - and about the Shenzhou spacecraft will also be on display.

A coastal province, Guangdong pays great attention to the revival of the maritime Silk Road, authorities said.

Senior officials from the central and Guangdong provincial governments said Guangdong should grasp the economic opportunity of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road proposal and further strengthen business and trade cooperation with Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Zhanjiang, as one of the earliest ports on the maritime route of the ancient Silk Road, is a major priority in the country's drive to implement the Belt and Road Initiative.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/20/2015 page10)