Openness, government support make for industry's golden era

Chengdu's unique charms attract global events, business titans

The convention and exhibition industry of Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, is entering a golden era.

The city hosted the 12th EU-China Business & Technology Cooperation Fair, the 2017 Education Forum for Asia Annual Conference, and the fourth Chengdu Creativity and Design Week in a row in October. The 22nd General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization took place in the city in September.

Last year, the city held the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.

On Nov 8, Chengdu staged Chinese IT giant Tencent's 2017 Global Partner Conference, with the theme Open and Creation. The event attracted about 350 elite entrepreneurs and business leaders, and more than 10,000 of Tencent's partners from around the world.

Wang Lan, deputy general manager of Tencent's open platform business, said that the conference's unprecedented scale was a result of the great support from the authorities in Chengdu, Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone and Tianfu New Area.

"Chengdu's inclusiveness, openness and high capacity are other important reasons. As a historical cultural city and a rising center for technology and science, Chengdu attracts professionals and attention from around the world with its unique charms. We are grateful that the event can be staged in Chengdu," Wang added.

In the preparation for and proceedings of the conference, authorities of various levels - including the Chengdu municipal commission of economy and information technology, and Chengdu bureau of expo - made concerted efforts in terms of security, accommodation, venue support and traffic services, to provide the best conference experience for every attendee, he said.

Lin Songtao, vice-president of Tencent, said that Chengdu's openness aligns with the company's principles. The city's charms and characteristics match with the requirements of the global conference, which is why Tencent chose Chengdu for this important annual event this year, Lin said.

The city's openness promotes its booming science and technology scene, and its cultural and innovation industries.

In the first half of this year, Chengdu saw the launch of more than 6,000 technology enterprises, and the output of high-tech industries was estimated to total roughly 456 billion yuan ($69 billion).

According to a report from Tencent Research Institute, Chengdu's digital economy ranks No 1 among 14 second-tier cities across China.

Chengdu is the cradle of King of Glory, a popular mobile game. It is also a national famous city of cultural tourism and the exhibition, showbiz, music and cartoon industries.

The fourth Chengdu Creativity and Design Expo concluded on Nov 13, with a total contract volume of 3.56 billion yuan signed at the event, attracting 155,000 visitors.

The expo has opened its first international hall, attracting 1,000 designers and 700 agencies from over 20 countries and regions, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia and Sweden.

Laska Tatiana, dean of the Art Institute of Saint Petersburg State University, spoke highly of Chengdu. She said that the city's facilities and architecture are modern and full of vitality, creating a place fitting for the development of creative design.

Chengdu is attaching increasing importance to the convention and exhibition industry's role in boosting economic growth. Big events and activities, which steer the flow of people, funds, information and other resources, are regarded as key platforms to attract economic driving forces to Chengdu.

Chen Zeyan, a researcher with the China Convention, Exhibition and Event Society, said events are closely related to the economic development of a city and the zeitgeist. That means the industry can be an important means to enhance national soft power, as China has already become the world's second-largest economy, he said.

Chen added new technology and demand will provide a larger market and platforms for the exhibition economy, which can stoke the growth of the new economy.

A senior official of the Chengdu bureau of expo said: "New types of economic drivers are gradually taking shape with the advancement of artificial intelligence, big data and augmented reality technologies. Exhibitions and conventions are among the most effective means to learn about current trends in economic development. It is so in the industrial age's exhibition of machines, and the information age's high-technology shows."

He said controlling the "flow" of factors and resources can help to manage future economic development. In this regard, Chengdu has already demonstrated enough competency and control, he said.

Statistics show in the first 10 months of this year, Chengdu hosted 525 big events, with a total exhibition area of 3.2 million square meters and direct income of 7.99 billion yuan, up 13 percent year-on-year. The city estimated that the total revenue of conventions and exhibitions from January to October hit 80.26 billion yuan, up 11.9 percent year-on-year.

(China Daily 11/30/2017 page18)