Shanghai to host international stamp exhibition

China 2024 Asian International Stamp Exhibition will be held in Shanghai from Nov 29 to Dec 3, said officials during a news conference on Friday.

Shanghai Exhibition Center located in central Shanghai's Jing'an District will host the stamp exhibition. Companies and institutions from 69 countries and regions will take part in the event, covering about 13,000 square meters with 120 booths, said Tu Gang, head of universal services department of State Post Bureau.

The number of overseas participants is expected to exceed 200, said Tu.

More than 1,600 frames of stamps will take part in the competition set during the exhibition, hitting a record high among all the competitions of the same kind held in Asia, he added.

Apart from all the 15 official categories defined by the FIP - the world federation for philately based in Zurich, the upcoming competition will include for the first time the First Day Cover category as a pilot program, Gao Hongtao, deputy director of All-China Philatelic Federation, said at the Friday news conference.

A set of commemorative stamps incorporating various printing techniques such as traditional engraving and variable temperature effects will be released for the upcoming exhibition, said Zhao Aiguo, deputy general manager of China National Philatelic Co Ltd, which is part of the China Post Group Corporation Limited.

Meanwhile, a special small-sized stamp with a built-in chip will also be released. By using smartphone's near field communication technology, the chip will be activated and light up Shanghai's landmark Oriental Pearl Tower, which has been printed in the stamp, said Zhao.