City's technical marvels on show
Fairs offer exhibitors an opportunity to highlight a diverse range of products
As a manufacturing base for electronics and hi-tech products, Shenzhen plays an important role showcasing China's innovations to the world, a channel for foreign products to enter the country and a platform for co-operation and exchange between companies. Many of these activities happen at exhibitions.
The annual China Hi-Tech Fair is probably the best known hi-tech exhibition in Shenzhen, which will celebrate its 18th edition at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre from November 16 to 21.
Hosted by Shenzhen's municipal government, in conjunction with various ministries and commissions, the show puts an emphasis on new technologies, products and services in the hi-tech sectors, including energy saving, environmental protection and new energy. Seminars during the fair cover a wide range of topics.
The November 2015 show attracted 583,000 visitors, including 128 delegations from 94 countries and regions. The fair, which occupied 150,000 square metres, attracted 3,686 exhibitors, up 22.2 per cent from 2014.
According to a survey conducted by the organisers, 44.7 per cent of last year's visitors were from the electronics and information industries. Other sectors included information technology and communications (12.8 per cent), new energy and energy saving technology (11.3 per cent), and machinery and equipment (7.4 per cent). The survey found that 98.8 per cent of respondents were happy with the exhibition, and 83.5 per cent said they would return this year.
Another major hi-tech exhibition in Shenzhen is the China Information Technology Expo (CITE), which has been held in April since 2013. The event is hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Municipal Government of Shenzhen, and organised by the China Electronic Appliance Corp and Shenzhen Flat Panel Display Industry Association.
This year's event at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 8 to 10 attracted 1,700 exhibitors and 120,000 visitors. A wide range of products and technologies were on display, including artificial intelligence hardware, robots, drones, mobile internet, cloud computing, big data, wearable devices, intelligent household appliances, integrated circuits, electronic components and new energy.
More than 3,000 new products and technologies were unveiled, including those from Chinese enterprises Han's Laser, Geesun, Second, Tada and Yuming.
New car industry products included lithium batteries, charging stations and new energy. Carmakers BYD, SAIC Motor and Toyota displayed new energy models.
More than 100 seminars were held under the event theme "Innovation, Intelligence, Integration".