First national industrial exhibition starts amid COVID-19

The annual China International Industry Fair opens in Shanghai on Tuesday, becoming the first national-level industrial fair since the outbreak of COVID-19 as prevention and containing of the epidemic continues.

The five-day event will feature up to 500 new products or technologies making their China or global debut, the highest number in the fair's history according to Yao Chunyu, a deputy general manager at Donghao Lansheng (Group) Co Ltd, which manages the CIIF.

The significant increase in the debuts of new products and technologies may have to do with the lack of high standard industrial exhibitions this year, Yao said.

Shi Hongyan, an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said many well-known international exhibitions were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As China's first national-level industrial exhibition this year, CIIF has become a benchmark event of global industrial exhibition, demonstrating China's commitment in opening-up and its efforts in promoting the recovery of the global economy," Shi said.

Taking up an area of 245,000 square meters, this year's fair has attracted more than 2,000 exhibitors, according to Rong Zhiqin, vice-chairman of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization.

Since 1999, the CIIF has become an important platform for showcasing the latest in technologies, products and services.