Expo eyes game changing role for innovation

Shenzhen's annual high-tech fair looks to facilitate three national transformations

The China Hi-Tech Fair 2014, which started in Shenzhen on Sunday, is playing an increasingly important role in the implementation of China's strategy of innovation-driven development.

The annual fair, which is co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, some other ministries and Shenzhen government, has become the largest and most influential high-tech expo in China, said Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin at a news conference on Saturday.

Robots dance and pile up blocks at the opening of the fair on Sunday. The organizers said the novel start not only showcases China's rising strength in developing robots independently, it also promotes the principle of holding an economic but fantastic fair. Chen Wen / For China Daily

"We aim to make it a world-leading high-tech fair," he said.

The event in the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, and the 110,000-square-meter expo area is expected to host more than 500,000 visitors from home and abroad before it closes on Friday, the organizers estimate.

The fair has attracted more than 100 delegations from 50 countries and regions and roughly 3,000 exhibitors, who have brought at least 10,000 projects, many of which are making their global debuts.

China has laid great emphasis on innovation, with President Xi Jinping reiterating on many different occasions that it is crucial for China's future development.

The country is promoting three changes - the change from "made in China" to "made by China", the change from "Chinese speed" to "Chinese quality" and the change from "Chinese products" to "Chinese brands" - and the fair is helping bring these about by bringing together government resources, industrial leaders, high-tech start-ups, technological achievements, research expertise, investors and consultancy companies, Mayor Xu said.

The fair has five key features.

First, it serves as a platform to display technological achievements in China's new strategic industries, including new generation information technology, new energy and new materials that can support China's industrial restructuring and upgrading.

Second, it highlights the latest achievements in green and low-carbon industries, the recycling economy and environmental protection.

Three, it highlights further opening-up and serves China's "One Belt and One Road" strategy, which refers to China's proposal to forge a Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which aim to promote greater connectivity in the region.

With this in mind, the fair's organizers extended invitations to other countries, such as Russia, Thailand, Hungary and Bulgaria to strengthen scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.

As a result, the number of registered professional visitors and buyers from Central Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, North Africa and countries in east and central Europe is much higher than last year, according to the mayor.

Fourth, it better serves business start-ups with innovation strength, and encourages small and micro high-tech enterprises and young students.

The organizers have set up an enterprise and investment service zone in Hall 8 for individuals and small enterprises to display new technologies and organized project road shows.

Five, the fair promotes improved product quality and guides China's high-tech industry to be more market-oriented and internationally competitive.

Gao Guohui, deputy secretary general of the organizing committee and Shenzhen city government, said a package of new arrangements would highlight the theme of green development.

These include an exhibition for new energy vehicles and the Internet of vehicles in Hall 4, an exhibition for new agricultural technologies and applications in Hall 8, an exhibition on green building in Hall 1 and a summit on new energy and green development.

Newly developed robots strut their stuff at CHTF 2014. Chen Wen / For China Daily

Models demonstrate wearable devices at the expo. Chen Wen / For China Daily