Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, speaks at the 20th CEFCO, Tianjin, Jan. 9, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The 20th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO) opened in Tianjin on Jan. 9. The forum, with the theme of "Empowering Sustainable Future with New Quality Productive Forces," invited leaders of the global exhibition industry to discuss the trends of industry development. The "Tianjin Initiative" was published at the 20th CEFCO. 

The event can be seen as a grand celebration of the 20th anniversary of the forum's founding, and an international gathering of key industry practitioners to pool their wisdom and discuss the industry's future development.

Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, noted that the exhibition industry is known as a "barometer" of the national economy and "booster" of industrial development. The forum held dialogues and discussions on topics such as digital empowerment, green and low-carbon, innovative development and talent training in the exhibition field, and explored the general trend of the exhibition industry. 

Ren added that the forum's agenda was in line with the requirements of the times and highly targeted, and called on those attending to seize the opportunity, communicate in depth, explore cooperation opportunities, and contribute wisdom and strength to the high-quality development of the global exhibition industry.

A panel discussion at the 20th CEFCO, Tianjin, Jan. 9, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The forum participants agreed that China's exhibition industry has developed steadily over the past 20 years and achieved many positive results. The CEFCO emphasizes innovation and cooperation, and has built an open communication platform for the exhibition industry, which is conducive to promoting the sustainable development of the global exhibition industry and even the global economy. 

Chuck Grouzard, chairperson of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, delivers a speech at the 20th CEFCO, Tianjin, Jan. 9, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Chris Skeith, CEO of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, pointed out that over the past two decades, China's exhibition industry has become increasingly powerful, and the CEFCO has become important and prominent. Chuck Grouzard, chairperson of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, noted that the theme of this year's forum requires the exhibition industry to be bold and innovative and adopt sustainable practices to ensure the long-term success of the industry. 

Vincent Polito, CEO of the Society of Independent Show Organizers, not only highly praised the forum, saying that it could inspire international cooperation, but also expressed full confidence in the Chinese economy and market. "Twenty years ago, we could not imagine that the Chinese exhibition industry could hold such a grand event, but now the development of the Chinese exhibition industry has surpassed many countries," said Polito.

Michael Duck, executive vice-president of Commercial Development of Informa Markets, regarded this forum as a powerful example of the prosperity and development of China's exhibition industry in the past 20 years. He added that the forum will help the global exhibition industry work together to cope with the opportunities and challenges brought by the development of the current era such as from AI.

Michael Duck, executive vice-president for commercial development of Informa Markets, speaks at the 20th CEFCO, Tianjin, Jan. 9, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The CEFCO is jointly organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Society of Independent Show Organizers and International Congress and Convention Association. More than 600 exhibition industry professionals from 20 countries and regions including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Poland, Singapore, Thailand and China's Hong Kong and Macao attended the event.

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