An online video lecture on how conference and exhibition enterprises should counter COVID-19 effects was held by CCPIT Department of Trade and Investment Promotion in Beijing on February 14. The lecture has invited commercial law experts to explain solutions to legal issues such as the inability to execute service contracts and loss bearing faced by domestic organizers who can’t organize overseas exhibitions as originally planned due to travel restrictions in some countries. Representatives from nearly 200 domestic conference and exhibition enterprises attended the lecture.

CCPIT Department of Trade and Investment Promotion Deputy Director Ruan Wei introduced the overall impact of the epidemic on the conference and exhibition industry, and counter measures taken by CCPIT in six aspects, namely enterprise research, information sharing, window service and legal consultation. Ruan Wei said that CCPIT will resolutely follow CPC Central Committee’s instructions to strengthen epidemic prevention and control management, provide legal advice and information services for enterprises, and actively seek support from overseas business associations and chambers as well as international exhibition organizations to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

The commercial law experts and enterprise representatives discussed on measures that can be taken by conference and exhibition enterprises to counteract epidemic effects, like liability exemption due to force majeure events, dispute settlement, application and effectiveness of the force majeure certificate, and the handling of default risks. Participating companies responded enthusiastically, saying they benefited a lot.

As one of a series of online video lectures on enterprise response guidance under the prevention and control of the epidemic, this lecture is hosted by CCPIT Department of Trade and Investment Promotion and organized by CCPIT Enterprises' Rights Protection Center. Follow-up lectures will cover other trade and investment themes enterprises concern to effectively solve difficulties for them.