(Yicai) May 22 -- France will be the guest of honor of the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services, the world's largest exhibition of trade in services.

The 11th CIFTIS, held in Beijing from Sept. 12 to 16, will promote further opening-up and cooperation, increase international partnerships in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, and green development, enhance innovation, and develop new productive forces, Sheng Qiuping, vice minister of commerce, said at a press conference yesterday. 

The CIFTIS will set up comprehensive and special exhibitions, said Piao Xuedong, head of the municipal commerce bureau. The special exhibitions will be about services in the fields of finance, cultural tourism, education, sports, supply chain and business, environment, telecoms, as well as computers and information technology.

France will arrange activities focusing on medical health and sports services. The European nation will hold a seminar themed 'France 2030' to highlight its economic prospects and business opportunities, according to Myriam Pavageau, minister counselor at the French embassy in China.

The 10 previous events cumulatively attracted more than 900,000 exhibitors from 197 countries and regions and over 800 overseas business associations and institutions, said Sima Hong, deputy mayor of Beijing. The fair is an important public platform for countries to showcase and promote their latest achievements in services, talk about policy, and seek trade cooperation, Sima added.

Nearly 280,000 people visited the fair last year. More than 2,400 companies participated in person and more than 6,700 firms joined online.

Editor: Emmi Laine