Finance and business worlds flocking to visit Chengdu

As it becomes more international and acquires greater global influence, Chengdu is developing into a popular destination for international conventions and exhibitions in western China.

One of the most influential events this year for the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China is the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting being held this weekend.

The event has drawn finance ministers and central bank governors from the G20 member states and guest countries, as well as principals of international financial organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Delegates will discuss the world's current economic trends and issues and share their views and insights about the prospects for future economic growth.

Other major events include the 2016 Chengdu Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair, the 22nd World Route Development Forum, the 16th Western China International Fair, the 11th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair, and the 19th Chengdu International Automobile Show.

It will hold about 520 major conventions and exhibitions this year, of which 20 percent are international events. The city's revenue from these events is expected to hit 77.92 billion yuan ($12 billion), up 10 percent from last year.

"Chengdu has become one of the top destinations for international events in China in recent years, after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou," said a spokesman for the Chengdu Bureau of Exposition.

In the past five years, Chengdu has introduced on average more than 10 new international conventions each year. They include the 2013 Fortune Global Forum, the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, the ninth World Biomaterials Congress and Airport Cities Asia Pacific 2015.

"It's not an accident that we picked Chengdu as the host of the 2013 Fortune Global Forum," said Andy Serwer, the then managing editor of Fortune magazine.

"Chengdu is the ideal location for the event thanks to a number of attributes: its ability to attract multinationals, its 15 percent gross domestic product growth as well as its advantages in transportation, education and resources," he said.

International exhibition companies such as Reed Exhibitions and UBM Group from the United Kingdom, Messe Frankfurt and Koelnmesse from Germany, and Singapore Exhibition Services have all organized events in the city.

Katie Bland, director of Routes for UBM and organizer of the 22nd World Route Development Forum to be held in Chengdu in September, said that the city has been attracting worldwide attention with its huge market potential and development opportunities, and this contributed to its success in winning the event.

"Chengdu is highly accessible via the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, and the city provides a perfect platform for the 2016 event," she said.

Chengdu is also expecting more international events under its strategic partnership with the UBM Group.

"Our goal is to work closely with Chengdu to determine the best types of exhibition and resources from both parties to build world-class leading exhibition events," said Philip Chapnick, group chief representative of UBM China.

The International Congress and Convention Association accepted the Chengdu Bureau of Exposition as a member in May 2013.

In January 2014, the bureau became a member of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, the world's largest exhibition industry association.

The city is improving its infrastructure to meet the growing demand for international events.

Construction of the Western China International Expo Center started in the Tianfu New Area in 2012. It will have 200,000 square meters of indoor exhibition area and 100,000 square meters of outdoor exhibition area, and will have the capacity to host large exhibitions, conventions and commercial activities.

After it is completed in August, Chengdu will have two major exhibition centers with the largest exhibition areas in western China.

The city is also upgrading its service system for international conventions and exhibitions.

Contact the writers through pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 07/23/2016 page7)