CIFTIS set for heavy turnout in Beijing

The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services, which is scheduled to be held from Sept 9 to 13 in Beijing, has entered its final preparation stage with a strong focus on facilitating enterprises' overseas expansion.

Since its inception, CIFTIS has resonated with the development of global trade in services, becoming an important platform for countries to showcase innovative achievements in the services sector, promote policy exchanges and foster trade cooperation, said Wei Mingqian, deputy general manager of Beijing North Star Co Ltd.

Wei said the successful hosting of the event relies heavily on media attention, recalling that the 2025 CIFTIS attracted over 3,200 registered journalists and achieved record-high coverage, fully demonstrating the innovative achievements of China's high-quality services sector.

This year's event will feature exhibitions, promotional negotiations, achievement releases and support activities, Wei added.

Demonstrating a continuously rising level of international engagement, nearly 300 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry-leading enterprises have confirmed their on-site participation.

For the first time, the 2026 CIFTIS will debut a "going global services promotion roadshow area".

This innovative section will feature professional institutions and enterprises related to finance, law, accounting, intellectual property, advertising and human resources to conduct promotional pitches and information sharing.

Centered on key themes such as the commercialization of achievements, open cooperation and new quality productive forces, the area aims to provide enterprises with one-stop services geared to help them expand overseas. More than 40 related roadshow activities have already been scheduled.

"The registration of exhibitors is drawing to a close, with those from nearly 70 countries, regions and international organizations having confirmed their participation to set up exhibitions," Wei said. He highlighted that Norway, as the guest country of honor, and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, as the guest provincial region of honor, will be setting up dedicated pavilions.

The upcoming fair will also highlight major debuts. More than 80 enterprises and institutions — including Alibaba, Schneider Electric and GE Healthcare — plan to release over 180 innovative achievements covering artificial intelligence, healthcare, cultural exports and green development.

"Relevant countries, international organizations and provinces will host over 190 forums, conferences and promotional activities," Wei said.

Highlighting long-term cooperation, the fair has expanded its sponsorship roster to include new partners like Beijing Data Group. Furthermore, the event will launch 28 new cultural and creative products, including co-branded chocolates, Wei said.

To provide an immersive consumption experience, the 2026 CIFTIS will feature over 70 support activities, extending beyond the main venue to multiple areas across the city.

Furthermore, the fair is prioritizing technological integration to upgrade its service quality.

"We are fully integrating digital technology into the entire process of the exhibition," Wei said, adding that the event will utilize AI translation devices, intelligent recommendation platforms and AI itinerary assistants to help participating enterprises efficiently connect with global partners.

Catering services have also been upgraded, with fixed seating tripled to accommodate up to 10,000 visitors, complemented by smart coffee and ice cream machines, while optimized shuttle buses will feature smart positioning and real-time information.

Ticketing for the 2026 CIFTIS has officially opened to the public via its official website, app and mini-programs, Wei added.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn