The 15th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO 2019), themed at “Create the Future Together”, was held in Qionghai, Hainan Province on January 10 to 12. More than 600 delegates from nearly 20 countries and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan gathered together to discuss about the new trend and opportunity of China’s exhibition industry.

The forum included three plenary sessions and 16 panel discussions. Delegates outlined the challenges in the transformation process of the exhibition industry at home and abroad. Sales revolution, application of technology in exhibition industry, how to explore the potential markets, smart exhibition summit, overseas exhibition market were the major topics for discussion. Delegates shared the opportunities and challenges of exhibition industry, emerging market experience, and the application of new technologies in exhibition industry at the forum by forms of case studies, roundtable discussions and high-level dialogues.

Many delegates pointed out, now it is a crucial period for the exhibition industry to be transformed and upgraded into smart exhibition industry. Therefore, how to use new technology to improve exhibition services is a key point in the transformation process.

Meanwhile, other major topics for discussion included how to provide tailor-made services for exhibition projects, how to link smart security with public security system and improve smart management. Participants agreed that the forum is a good opportunity to share experience on the transformation and innovation in the traditional exhibition industry.

Lastly, Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Lu Pengqi announced the 16th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO 2020) will be held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.