2004

The Shenzhen International Cultural Industries Fair was founded in Shenzhen in South China. It was named the Shenzhen International Cultural Industries Fair. The fair was included in the Experimental Work Plan of Shenzhen Cultural Structure Reform and the Program of Building Guangdong into a Province Prosperous in Cultural Industries.

The first ICIF was upgraded three times within a year, from being hosted only by the Shenzhen municipal government; then to being jointly hosted by the Department for Cultural Industry of the Ministry of Culture and the Shenzhen municipal government; and finally to being jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Guangdong provincial government and Shenzhen municipal government.

Finally, the first ICIF was hosted by the Ministry of Culture; State Administration of Radio, Film and Television; General Administration of Press and Publication of the PRC; Guangdong provincial government; and Shenzhen municipal government.

The first ICIF was upgraded as a national-level trade fair, and it was positioned to be "national-level, international and comprehensive." Its operation model was also defined as "hosted by the government, operated by enterprises, oriented to the market, building a platform, and promoting the cultural industries through the exhibition."

The grand opening of the first ICIF was held on November 18, 2004. Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee; Liu Yunshan, head of the CPC Publicity Department; Sun Jiazheng, minister of the Ministry of Culture; Zhang Dejiang, secretary- general of the Guangdong Provincial Committee; Huang Huahua, governor of Guangdong province; and Li Hongzhong, secretary-general of the CPC Shenzhen municipal committee, attended the opening ceremony and visited the main exhibition halls of the ICIF.

The first session attracted over 700 exhibitors, including 102 overseas companies from more than 50 countries and regions. The contract turnover and intended turnover of over 700 cultural industry investment and financing projects reached 35.69 billion yuan ($5.71 billion). The first ICIF was ranked as one of the top 10 Chinese cultural events in 2004.