Warm autumn sunlight fell across Shougang Park, a former steel mill site in western Beijing. In two days, the park will welcome delegates from around the world as the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services gets underway.

The fair comes at a time when global growth is under pressure, as higher tariffs and mounting protectionism weigh on goods trade. Trade in services, by contrast, has shown greater resilience, with digitalization and the green transition opening new avenues for cross-border business and providing fresh impetus to the world economy.

The growth in China's services trade reflects the expanding global footprint and rising competitiveness of Chinese service providers, as more companies tap overseas markets and forge cross-border partnerships.

In an interview, Li Hongyu, general manager of Beijing-based radiotherapy equipment maker LinaTech, said CIFTIS had helped the company forge international partnerships and expand its global presence.

Li pointed to the company's flagship VenusX medical linear accelerator, which received US FDA clearance in 2024 and has since been exported to eight countries. One became the first Chinese-made medical linear accelerator to enter clinical use in the United States, while another was the first such system installed in Africa.

"China's services trade is moving up the value chain, as companies increasingly compete overseas on the strength of their technology, solutions and standards," Li said.

The growing overseas reach of companies such as LinaTech is being underpinned not only by technological strength, but also by deeper institutional opening-up. Beijing has been at the forefront of that push.

"Multinational companies should capitalize on CIFTIS to deepen business ties and bring more high-quality products and services to Beijing and the broader Chinese market," said Yin Li, secretary of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee.

Beijing has also moved to facilitate cross-border data flows. Tang Wenhong, vice-mayor of Beijing, said at a news conference in late August that the city had extended the application of its negative list for cross-border data transfers from the pilot free trade zone to the entire city, covering nine sectors including medical devices.

Beijing is also piloting wider opening in value-added telecommunications and biotechnology, Tang added.

This push for wider opening-up is equally attractive to overseas businesses looking to deepen their presence in China. Norway's participation as this year's guest country of honor at CIFTIS offers a case in point.

The Norwegian national pavilion will showcase the country's strengths in green energy, digital technology, healthy home products and high-end nutrition.

Wu Haifeng, Falkor's senior vice-president, told me he saw the five-day fair as an opportunity to foster closer cooperation between Chinese and Norwegian companies in industrial intelligence.

"We look forward to a successful CIFTIS 2026 and to joining forces with partners worldwide to deepen cooperation in services," Wu said.

China's trade in services saw rapid expansion in the first half, officials, experts and business executives said, pointing to a shift toward a foreign trade structure in which services are an increasingly important source of growth.

Buoyed by the sector's robust expansion, the China International Fair for Trade in Services is set to further cement its role as a two-way gateway, accelerating the flow of global innovation into China's vast market while helping Chinese service providers make further inroads in markets overseas.

Opening in Beijing on Wednesday, the five-day fair is expected to draw growing international attention, underscoring China's commitment to opening its services sector wider and injecting much-needed stability and certainty into global trade amid mounting protectionism and heightened economic uncertainty, they added.

In contrast to goods trade, which involves physical products moving across borders, services trade covers transactions in intangible offerings ranging from transportation and tourism to telecommunications, advertising, education, computing and accounting.

In the first half, China's imports and exports of services totaled 3.78 trillion yuan ($556.6 billion), up 8.3 percent year-on-year, said the Ministry of Commerce.

That was nearly 50 percent higher than in the same period a decade earlier, when the total stood at 2.53 trillion yuan. Growth has gathered pace in recent years, with annual two-way services trade topping $1 trillion for the first time in 2024, the ministry said.

"China's services trade is expanding rapidly and becoming more competitive. It has emerged as a particularly resilient source of growth in the country's opening-up drive," said Wang Peng, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.

That growing strength is drawing businesses from around the world, with a strong international presence expected at the event.

"This year's fair will bring together some 90 countries and international organizations, with more than 1,800 companies set to exhibit on-site," Vice-Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said at a recent news conference in Beijing.

Falkor, a Norway-based industrial intelligence provider serving the global energy sector, will make its fifth appearance at CIFTIS this year, showcasing its solutions, real-world applications and the results of its work with industry partners, said Wu Haifeng, senior vice-president of Falkor.

Norway will serve as the guest country of honor at this year's fair. Wu, who is also vice-chairman of the Norwegian Business Association China, said Norwegian businesses hope to use the occasion to forge new partnerships in China.

At last year's fair, the company formed a strategic partnership with China Oil HBP Science & Technology Co. The two sides have since been working to roll out an industrial digital platform, Wu said.

"Over the next five years, we will continue to increase our investment in China, deepen local partnerships, and use industrial intelligence to boost operational performance and advance the energy sector's green transition," Wu said.

Meanwhile, this year's fair will see more than 90 companies and institutions unveil new technologies, products and services spanning information and communications technology, fintech and digital healthcare, with some set for global debuts or their first showings in China, Yan added.

Johnson & Johnson MedTech, the medical technology arm of US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson, will bring more than 60 products to the fair. About one-third will make their CIFTIS debut, said Edward Zhou, president of Johnson& Johnson MedTech China.

"We have been part of CIFTIS for several years now, and what sets this platform apart is its ability to turn conversations into action. It is more than a showcase — it is a catalyst," Zhou said.

Impella, a minimally invasive heart pump featured at last year's fair, has since secured temporary import approval under a program for innovative medical devices needed in clinical care and entered clinical use at leading cardiac centers in Beijing, he said, adding that "what we see in China's services trade is a clear shift toward quality-driven growth".

China's services exports jumped 17.6 percent year

-on-year to 1.5 trillion yuan in the first half. Exports of knowledge-intensive services rose 12.8 percent to 805.67 billion yuan, making up 53.5 percent of all services exports, said the Ministry of Commerce.

"With knowledge-intensive services now accounting for more than half of China's services exports, the sector has reached an inflection point and is moving further up the value chain," said Bai Wenxi, vice-chairman of the China Enterprise Capital Union.

Digital technology and artificial intelligence are accelerating the shift, with digital services emerging as a new growth engine, Bai said.

Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, also struck an optimistic note, saying China's rapid advances in AI and steady improvements in intellectual property protections would give its services exports ample room to grow.

Travel service exports grew even faster, rising 31.1 percent year-on-year to 229.2 billion yuan in the first half, the fastest pace among the five largest service export categories, said the ministry.

The surge came as China expanded visa-free access, streamlined departure tax refunds and improved payment services, fueling the popularity of "China Travel", Yan said.

China is doubling down on services exports, with "encouraging and supporting services exports" embedded in this year's Government Work Report as a key task.

In April, the State Council — the nation's Cabinet — issued a new set of guidelines aimed at expanding capacity and upgrading the quality of the country's services sector, setting a goal for its total scale to reach 100 trillion yuan by 2030.

Yan said the policy push would gather pace in the second half as measures to expand and upgrade the services sector and build national demonstration zones for the innovative development of trade in services take effect.

A State Council report submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for review in late August also called for expanding trade in services and promoting more balanced trade in the second half.

"China's trade in services is expected to remain on a positive trajectory this year, with services exports continuing to grow strongly," Yan said.

To further strengthen the competitiveness of Chinese services in foreign markets, this year's fair will, for the first time, feature a promotion and roadshow zone for overseas-expansion services, said Tang Wenhong, vice-mayor of Beijing, at the news conference.

Stronger exports have also helped narrow China's services trade deficit. The gap stood at 770.35 billion yuan in the first half, 161.42 billion yuan less than a year earlier, official figures showed.

Yet experts said the remaining gap points to room for the country to strengthen its competitiveness in high-value services.

Bai pointed to market access barriers, regional imbalances and gaps in domestic supply.

Trade in services remains concentrated in eastern China, with central and western regions playing a smaller role. Domestic supply remains weak in some knowledge-intensive areas, particularly intellectual property-related services, he said.

Bai called for closer alignment with international rules on digital services trade and sustained policy support for inbound tourism.

"China needs to make better use of CIFTIS, build stronger capabilities in knowledge-intensive services and move faster on institutional opening-up," he said.

The ministry said China will move faster to develop national demonstration zones for the innovative development of trade in services. The country will also steadily broaden market access and open up more areas of the services sector, while improving the negative-list system for cross-border trade in services.

The measures are aimed at removing barriers and creating a more open, transparent and predictable market environment for domestic and foreign businesses.

Zhou from the academy said the deficit should not be viewed in isolation.

While an excessively large gap could make it harder to build strong industry clusters and sharpen competitiveness, imports can bring in the expertise and technology needed for economic upgrading, he said.

As China's domestic capabilities strengthen, services exports are also rising, Zhou said, adding: "China should expand services imports and exports in tandem and tap global expertise and resources to add momentum to growth. That would make the economy more knowledge — and technology-intensive and support high-quality development."

zhangchenxu@chinadaily.com.cn

Driven by a systemic leap in independent innovation, China's foreign trade reached a historic high of over 25 trillion yuan ($3.72 trillion) in the first half, propelled by orders for robots, artificial intelligence and innovative drugs — collectively known as the "new new three".

The evolution of China's export portfolio tells a compelling story of continuous industrial upgrading. Decades ago, the "old three" — clothing, furniture and home appliances — dominated shipments, later replaced by the "new three" of new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and solar cells.

Today, the "new new three" are emerging as the latest calling cards of Chinese foreign trade. Chen Yutao, deputy director of the standard committee at the China Enterprise Confederation under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, said this evolution represents a concentrated demonstration of China's shift from advanced manufacturing to an even more comprehensive innovation ecosystem.

This year, the accelerated development of the AI sector has seen China exporting algorithms, computing power and digital solutions, alongside rapid growth in AI hardware exports. Amid the global AI boom, massive amounts of data are transmitted between data centers, with facilities increasingly reliant on advanced optical communication networks.

In a production facility of Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock in Wuhan's Optics Valley in Hubei province, production lines are operating at full capacity.

"Special optical fibers used for AI intelligent computing centers are currently in short supply due to the explosive growth of data centers," said Wen Xiaojiang, general manager of YOFC's International Company.

Securing these orders is the result of years of technological accumulation. Since China's first practical optical fiber was born in Wuhan in the 1970s, Optics Valley has built an industrial cluster encompassing materials, devices and equipment. Today, more than 800 AI enterprises are rooted in the area, with the optoelectronic information industry's annual output exceeding 660 billion yuan.

Anticipating AI computing scenarios, YOFC has proactively developed a series of AI computing optical fibers, propelling China to the forefront of next-generation optical fiber technology. Zheng Xin, vice-president of YOFC, explained they developed this fiber recognizing its advanced concept, believing it would be widely used. "When the AI wave arrived, this fiber was ready for those who were prepared," Zheng said.

The rise of the "new new three" is heavily supported by China's robust high-end manufacturing and industrial clusters. Backed by a complete industrial ecology, Chinese robotics has become a front-runner in the global wave of intelligence. Inside a robotics company in Beijing's Zhongguancun tech hub, a head of overseas business conducts a video call with a Thai agent, promptly adjusting technical solutions to customize the most suitable products.

Founded in 2014, this enterprise has leveraged years of technological reserves to expand globally. Its robots are now deployed in over 40,000 hotels, more than 200 medical institutions and numerous factories across over 20 countries.

Utilizing a modular architecture, the company flexibly combines a universal robot chassis with various functional components. Users can dispatch robots to complete multiple tasks by issuing voice or text commands through an AI smartphone assistant.

Within the company, robots are increasingly becoming daily co-workers, navigating between floors to respond to employee needs, thereby refining their practical service capabilities. In the first half, China's cumulative exports of various robots reached 12.947 million units, with a total export value of 24.85 billion yuan, reaching more than 160 countries and regions. Relying on abundant application scenarios and comprehensive supply chains, Chinese firms are providing smarter, cost-effective robots worldwide.

While AI and robotics exports primarily involve products and system-based services, the innovative pharmaceutical sector is increasingly characterized by the export of patents and foundational research capabilities. In the first half, 31 domestically produced innovative drugs were approved for market launch nationwide.

Two originated from the medicine port in Hangzhou's Qiantang New Area, a compact hub that has gathered over 300 innovative pharmaceutical companies over the past 10 years. Notably, even before achieving commercial sales, some pharmaceutical companies have already generated overseas revenue through drug patent licensing.

Qian Lili, chairwoman of I-Mab Biopharma, recalled that 10 years ago, Chinese firms had to wait for products to be launched abroad before introducing them domestically.

"Currently, we are out-licensing the rights of our self-developed products to overseas companies," Qian said.

This year, the company completed a business development transaction with US company Biogen for a self-developed anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, with a total deal value of $850 million and an upfront payment of $100 million. Such deals allow domestic pharmaceutical companies to jointly advance research and development and sales with global partners, becoming a crucial pathway to enter the international market.

In the first half, the total value of China's out-licensing transactions for innovative drugs exceeded $100 billion, setting a historical record and pushing the industry's scale to the second largest globally.

Behind this success is a significant reduction in core material costs. The price of domestically developed cell culture media — essential for biopharmaceuticals — is now only one-quarter of what it used to be. This continuous reduction in raw material costs, optimized processes and sustained basic research have accelerated the global expansion of innovative drugs.

Accelerated R&D and faster regulatory approvals have enabled domestic innovative drugs to get to market quickly, benefiting domestic patients earlier.

Shen Lin, vice-president of Peking University Cancer Hospital, said doctors feel much more confident as R&D speed has significantly increased.

Liu Guoen, dean of the Peking University Institute for Global Health and Development, views this explosive growth as the inevitable result of decades of long-term accumulation, and expects that going global will remain the biggest highlight on China's path of innovation.

According to industry surveys, many professionals have been somewhat surprised by the rapid development of many sectors. Longstanding optical fiber manufacturers did not anticipate the sudden AI demand surge, robotics companies did not foresee the sheer volume of customized global requests, and innovative drug practitioners never imagined established overseas pharmaceutical giants would actively seek R&D collaborations from Chinese partners.

The overarching consensus is that the "new new three" represent a new systemic capability cultivated through decades of exploration in Chinese manufacturing, marking a qualitative upgrade of China's industrial logic heading into the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30).

Hao Jianbin, a researcher at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, pointed out this transition embodies a comprehensive iteration of China's comparative advantages in foreign trade.

Hao said the growth driver has shifted from supply chain scale to original innovation, competing on foundational technology. Furthermore, patterns have diversified from physical goods to a composite trade of goods and knowledge-centric services, raising the ceiling of foreign trade added value. China's position in the global division of labor is also moving upward, directly targeting global frontier sectors.

Additionally, the international cooperation model has shifted from one-way outbound sales to two-way global collaborative innovation. Transnational open-source collaboration in AI and cross-border joint R&D in innovative drugs have become the new norms, demonstrating stronger resilience and adaptability to diverse global needs.

Zhao Lijin, deputy director of the Market Research Department at the CCPIT Academy, concluded that the progression to the "new new three" export product categories demonstrates China's export overseas sales structure is continuously moving toward newer, higher-quality frontiers.

With core advantages shifting to independent, source innovation aspects, more golden ideas from laboratories are accelerating their transformation into golden keys for development, Zhao said.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn

China's expanding trade in services, coupled with its vast healthcare market and improving regulatory environment, is creating fresh opportunities for multinational medical technology companies to introduce advanced solutions and deepen collaboration with local innovators, a senior executive said.

The China International Fair for Trade in Services, or CIFTIS, which will open in Beijing on Sept 9, has become a key platform for turning those opportunities into tangible outcomes and moving medical innovations from exhibition to clinical application, he said.

"What sets this platform apart is its ability to turn conversations into action. It is more than a showcase — it is a catalyst," Edward Zhou, president of Johnson & Johnson MedTech China, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily.

J&J MedTech, the medical technology arm of US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson, has participated in CIFTIS for several years, Zhou said.

This year, the company will showcase more than 60 products, about one-third of which will make their CIFTIS debut, including the Carina modular laparoscopic surgical robot developed by Shanghai-based Ronovo Surgical.

It also plans to work with a leading hospital in Beijing to establish a training and demonstration center for modular surgical robots to support physician training and clinical adoption, Zhou said.

Impella, a heart pump showcased by J&J MedTech at last year's fair, was later granted temporary import approval under a framework allowing innovative medical devices to be brought in to meet urgent clinical needs and is now in use at leading cardiac centers in Beijing.

"China is playing an increasingly active role in the global healthcare services ecosystem," he said, adding that the country's clinical data resources, digital infrastructure and research talent are contributing to medical innovation worldwide.

The shift is being underpinned by a stronger policy push. This year's Government Work Report said China will "expand market access and open up more areas, particularly in the services sector" and "shorten the negative list for cross-border trade in services".

Beijing has expanded the application of its data-export negative list from its pilot free trade zone to the entire city, covering nine sectors including medical devices.

Zhou said J&J MedTech is enhancing ties with domestic innovators through product co-development and commercial arrangements aimed at facilitating market access and incorporating clinical insights from China into its global innovation network.

Such efforts include collaborations with CED Medical and Pulse Medical on neurosurgical interventions and a left atrial appendage occlusion device, respectively, while its strategic partnership with Ronovo Surgical seeks to accelerate the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery in China.

The partnerships demonstrate the potential of combining global expertise with local innovation, Zhou said.

Wang Peng, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said China's vast market, well-developed industrial ecosystem and continued services-sector opening-up have provided fertile ground for global businesses seeking to tap rising demand for higher-quality services.

"Foreign companies can leverage their expertise to play a greater role in China's expanding services market and benefit as consumer spending shifts toward higher-quality services."

Looking ahead, Zhou said J&J MedTech will focus on advanced manufacturing and medtech innovation as it expands its presence in China.

The company has established a localized production line for electrophysiology devices at its campus in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, as well as Technology and Innovation Hubs in Beijing focused on digital health, professional education and electrophysiology.

"Our priority is on deepening our local footprint and becoming more fully integrated into China's healthcare ecosystem," he added.

zhangchenxu@chinadaily.com.cn

China's trade in services, underpinned by robust growth in knowledge-intensive service-sector exports and burgeoning inbound tourism, is set to benefit from further policy and market developments in the second half, officials and experts said, pointing to the sector's emergence as a key engine of foreign trade growth.

Their remarks came ahead of the five-day 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services, which is scheduled to open in Beijing on Sept 9, as the country doubles down on efforts to broaden access to its vast services market amid rising protectionist barriers and heightened economic uncertainty.

"This year's fair will bring together some 90 countries and international organizations, with more than 1,800 companies set to exhibit on-site," said Yan Dong, vice-minister of commerce, at a news conference on Friday.

More than 90 companies and institutions will unveil new technologies, products and services spanning information and communications technology, fintech and digital healthcare, some of which will be making their global debuts or their first showings in China, Yan said.

In order to strengthen the competitive edge of Chinese services in global markets, this year's fair will, for the first time, feature a promotion and roadshow area dedicated to overseas expansion services, said Tang Wenhong, vice-mayor of Beijing.

China's two-way trade in services posted solid growth in the first half, with total imports and exports rising 8.3 percent year-on-year to 3.8 trillion yuan ($560.4 billion), the Ministry of Commerce said.

Services exports surged 17.6 percent, providing a strong boost to foreign trade growth. Notably, knowledge-intensive services exports rose 12.8 percent to 805.67 billion yuan, accounting for 53.5 percent of the total.

"With knowledge-intensive services now accounting for more than half of the total, China's services exports have reached an inflection point and are moving further up the value chain," said Bai Wenxi, vice-chairman of the China Enterprise Capital Union, adding that digital technology and artificial intelligence are accelerating the shift, with digital services emerging as a new growth engine.

The sector is also set to receive further policy support in the July-December period, as national demonstration zones for the innovative development of trade in services and other measures begin to deliver results, said Yan, adding, "China's trade in services is expected to remain on a positive trajectory this year, with services exports continuing to grow strongly."

Wang Peng, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said China's expanding services sector is also creating new opportunities for foreign companies, given the country's vast market and well-developed industrial ecosystem.

"Foreign companies can leverage their expertise to play a greater role in China's expanding services market and benefit as consumer spending shifts toward higher-quality services," Wang said.

Falkor AS, a Norway-based industrial intelligence provider serving the global energy sector, will make its fifth appearance at CIFTIS this year, showcasing its solutions, real-world applications and the results of its work with industry partners, said Wu Haifeng, Falkor's senior vice-president.

Norway will be the guest country of honor at this year's fair. Norwegian businesses hope to use the occasion to build new partnerships in China, said Wu, who is also vice-chairman of the Norwegian Business Association China.

"Over the next five years, we will continue to increase our investment in China, deepen local partnerships and use industrial intelligence to boost operational performance and advance the green transition of the energy sector," Wu said.

Beijing, this year's host of CIFTIS, is also opening its services sector wider. A citywide data-export negative list now covers nine sectors, including medical devices, and opening-up pilots are underway in value-added telecommunications and biotechnology areas, said Tang, the city's vice-mayor.

zhangchenxu@chinadaily.com.cn

The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is finalizing its preparations to showcase its digital trade innovations and strengthen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ahead of the upcoming 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing.

Li Shuo, deputy director of Guangxi's department of commerce, highlighted the profound significance of the region's participation. This is a testament to its strategic position at the forefront of China-ASEAN cooperation and its role in serving the country's new development paradigm.

To ensure a robust presence, Guangxi has established a highly coordinated organizational system, mobilizing a delegation that comprises all 14 of its prefectural-level cities, 10 government departments, and 60 key enterprises in service and digital trade — altogether involving over 200 participants.

The region's extensive preparations align seamlessly with the expanding scale of 2026 CIFTIS, scheduled to be held from Sept 9 to 13 in Beijing. Demonstrating a continuously rising level of international engagement, nearly 300 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry-leading enterprises have confirmed their on-site participation at the event.

Guangxi's upgraded comprehensive pavilion is designed as a premier window for China-ASEAN digital trade cooperation. Themed around utilizing digital intelligence to link with ASEAN, the fully immersive space features a five-part layout, including a national-level platform data wall, an artificial intelligence application scenario zone and a cross-border digital services area.

The exhibition will promote Guangxi's AI development and its application in ASEAN markets, alongside regional specialties such as cross-border logistics, traditional Chinese medicine wellness and cultural exports, aiming to present complex data and technologies through tangible, real-world scenarios that drive localized cooperation, Li said.

To further support such international outreach and the commercialization of achievements, 2026 CIFTIS will debut a "going global services promotion roadshow area".

Centered on open cooperation and new quality productive forces, this innovative section will feature professional institutions related to finance, law, accounting, intellectual property, advertising and human resources.

With more than 40 roadshow activities already scheduled, the area aims to conduct promotional pitches and information sharing, providing enterprises with one-stop services geared to help them expand overseas.

Leveraging this broad international platform, Li said Guangxi will co-host a major promotion conference with Beijing and Hainan province on the afternoon of Sept 9.

Supported by ASEAN embassies and international organizations, the event will focus on building a new ecosystem for digital trade cooperation. The conference will feature the release of research findings, new product launches, project signings and the joint launch of a new highland for open cooperation.

Furthermore, Guangxi will host four specialized matchmaking events to unleash the potential of its characteristic industries. Li said that on Sept 10, the port city of Fangchenggang will host an international medical product exhibition, while a national new tea beverage industry conference will be co-hosted by China Daily and the Guangxi Broadcasting and Television Network. Later that day, Nanning will lead a digital services export matchmaking session. Throughout the fair, a cultural and tourism exhibition will also be set up.

Li said preparations have entered the final sprint stage. By utilizing the CIFTIS platform, Guangxi aims to present a fresh image of high-standard opening-up and contribute to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future through practical economic and trade cooperation.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn

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

For sports fans, the appeal of a major sporting event increasingly extends beyond competition to immersive viewing, fan merchandise, outdoor activities, and new ways of experiencing a city.

Those trends will be on display at the sports services section of the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, which will bring together sports technology, event operations, intellectual property, and sports tourism this September.

The five-day exhibition will run from Sept 9 to 13 at Hall 6 of Shougang Park, covering 6,600 square meters. More than 60 companies are expected to participate in person, while more than 350 will take part online, including over 40 international organizations and more than 20 leading companies.

For visitors, the section will offer a range of interactive experiences, including laser shooting, immersive digital sports viewing, AI-powered motion capture, and hands-on demonstrations of smart sports venues.

Sports-themed consumer products and outdoor equipment will also be showcased alongside activities such as meet-and-greets with Olympic champions. A dedicated area will highlight the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, linking major international sporting events with the city's efforts to develop its sports industry.

The exhibition is also designed to showcase how sports services are becoming increasingly international.

At a media briefing in Beijing on Aug 14, Lou Xiaojing, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, said the event will focus on the sports event economy, technology-driven development, industrial integration, and international cooperation.

Fitness equipment maker Shuhua Sports will showcase AI-powered fitness equipment and professional equipment for HYROX, an international fitness racing event. The company says it has more than 500 sports technology patents and serves more than 110 countries.

Technology is also changing how athletes train and compete. Beijing-based Suooter Technology will unveil a digital archery training and competition system that uses optical positioning technology to collect seven types of data, including arrow impact coordinates, aiming trajectories, heart rate, and wind speed.

Meanwhile, All Star Partner's sports IP business illustrates another emerging link between sports and consumption. Its FanTown spaces bring together collectibles, fan events and trophy exhibitions, turning major sporting IPs into entertainment experiences outside traditional stadiums.

The international focus will extend to the exhibition's forums. The main forum, themed on the development of international sports cities and the sports event economy, will bring together representatives of international sports organizations and diplomatic missions.

The sports service section is being held under the theme "Sports City, Connecting the World", reflecting Beijing's efforts to build on its experience as host of both the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Chinese firms will showcase sports equipment, digital venue solutions, event services, and sports IP, while international organizations and companies will have opportunities to explore cooperation with Chinese counterparts.

BEIJING -- China's services trade expanded 8.3 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.

The total value of service imports and exports reached nearly 3.78 trillion yuan (about $556.56 billion) from January to June this year, according to the data.

Throughout the period, travel service exports grew at the fastest rate among the top five service export categories, rising 31.1 percent to 229.2 billion yuan.

Knowledge-intensive services trade rose 6.7 percent year-on-year to 1.66 trillion yuan during the same period, accounting for 44 percent of all service trade. Notably, exports of personal cultural and entertainment services and the charges for the use of intellectual property surged 57.2 percent and 44.3 percent respectively.

Tuesday's data also showed that imports of transport services totaled 498.1 billion yuan during the period, up 30.4 percent, the fastest growth rate among the top five service import categories.

China and the United Kingdom's decision to accelerate a joint feasibility study on a bilateral services trade agreement is expected to lay the groundwork for deeper cooperation in high-value services, despite broader trade uncertainties, analysts said on Friday.

When co-chairing the 15th meeting of the China-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission with UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle in London on Thursday, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said that China welcomes greater investment from British companies and hopes that the UK will provide a fair, equitable and nondiscriminatory environment for Chinese companies investing in the country.

According to a statement released on Friday by the Ministry of Commerce, Wang said that China and the UK, as important members of the World Trade Organization, should work together to implement the outcomes of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference.

Kyle emphasized that economic and trade cooperation is an important pillar of UK-China relations. The rapid development of China's services sector has created significant opportunities for British businesses.

He stressed that the UK is willing to strengthen policy communication with China and increase cooperation in the services sector via the China-UK Bilateral Services Partnership and the joint feasibility study on a China-UK services trade agreement.

During the meeting, the Chinese side expressed serious concern over the UK's new steel trade measure, effective from Wednesday, and urged the UK to adjust the measure as soon as possible to ensure that it is consistent with WTO rules.

The measure states that the British government is limiting tariff-free steel imports, reducing the overall quota by 51 percent compared with the steel safeguard measure. Any imports above these levels will face a 50 percent tariff.

Rebalancing relationship

Sebastian Wood, chair of the China-Britain Business Council, said that when it comes to frictions arising from trade surpluses, there are both constructive and counterproductive ways to address them.

Wood said that putting up barriers to keep Chinese imports out would be the wrong approach, as it would make goods more expensive for consumers and raise costs for businesses. Such measures would ultimately make the UK economy less competitive.

He said that the best way to rebalance the relationship is by boosting British exports to China and encouraging Chinese investment in the UK. Protectionism is not the answer, he added.

The UK was the first country to sign a memorandum of understanding under the "Big Market for All: Export to China" initiative and is among the countries featured in its 2026 program, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Launched in Shanghai in November, the initiative is part of China's broader effort to expand high-standard opening-up, increase imports and promote more balanced trade growth.

Zhao Fujun, a researcher specializing in international economic cooperation at the Beijing-based Development Research Center of the State Council, said that the services sector is emerging as one of the most promising areas for China-UK economic cooperation.

"The ongoing joint feasibility study on a bilateral services trade agreement could pave the way for broader collaboration in sectors such as banking, finance, professional services, education, skills training and the creative industries, bringing tangible benefits to both countries," said Zhao.

In addition to services trade, the value of China-UK goods trade amounted to 307.3 billion yuan ($45.32 billion) in the first five months of 2026, up 6.5 percent year-on-year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

BEIJING -- China's flagship services trade fair will add a dedicated area this year for companies seeking support in expanding overseas, Beijing authorities said on Monday.

The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services, or CIFTIS, will for the first time set up a promotion and roadshow zone for overseas-expansion services, bringing together providers in finance, law, accounting, intellectual property, advertising and human resources.

The zone will offer roadshow presentations, professional consulting and space for business talks, according to a press conference held in Beijing.

Zhao Qizhou, an official with the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, said the 2026 fair will continue to feature comprehensive exhibitions and nine thematic exhibitions. Dedicated overseas-expansion service areas will be incorporated into four of these thematic exhibitions: telecommunications, computer and information services, sports services, transport and business services, as well as education services.

Preparations for the fair's permanent venue at Shougang Park, a former steel mill site in western Beijing, are also moving ahead. Jiang Nan, deputy general manager of Shougang Group, said renovation and construction work began immediately after the 2025 edition of the fair closed.

The main structures of newly built exhibition spaces have been completed, while curtain walls, mechanical and electrical installation, interior finishing, outdoor utilities and landscaping are under way.

Norway will be the guest country of honor at the 2026 fair, with a national pavilion focused on green energy, digital technology, healthy home products and high-end nutrition.

More than 40 countries and international organizations, including Norway, Australia and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, have confirmed plans to set up exhibitions or host events at the fair.

Over 250 companies and institutions, such as China Mobile, Bank of China, Tencent, Walmart, Siemens, Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson, are expected to participate.