Yantai's exhibition industry has become a new spotlight of its economic development after a decade of industrial development.
"The 10 years of maturation in industry has shaped Yantai's international image as a business and trade city in the Asia-Pacific region," said Yantai's Vice-Mayor Li Shuqin. "International exhibitions are influencing every aspect of the city."
International exhibitions held in Yantai this year included the second session of International Grape Wine Festival, the 10th International Fruit, Vegetable and Food Exposition, 2008 Yantai International Exposition and the Fifth China Automobile Culture Exposition, the Third China International Food Festival, Health Tech Summit and New Drugs Exposition.
Exhibitions in the first 10 months of the year drew more than 200,000 merchants from home and abroad. The International Grape Wine Festival and 10th International Fruit, Vegetable and Food Exposition resulted in about $600 million overseas capital in contracts.
In 1997, the second Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Trade Exposition was held in Yantai with all 18 APEC members attending. More than 800 domestic and overseas enterprises gathered in Yantai to strengthen regional business links.
Bob Hawke, then prime minister of Australia, noted the exhibition was well organized and very successful.
"I give it full marks," he said.
Yantai has since held an APEC technology meeting and fair for small and medium-sized enterprises in 1998, an APEC investment exposition in 2001 and an APEC forum on e-commerce in 2003.
Since 1999 Yantai has hosted sessions of international fruit, vegetable and food expositions every year.
In October of 2006, Yantai hosted ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Forum and Exhibition on Tourism Investment and Cooperation that brought together members from 13 Asian and 25 European countries.
The first International Grape Wine Festival in Yantai in 2007 marked the city's emergence in the global wine industry.
A stage for world's players
Yantai's international exhibition center covers 55,000 sq m and can hold about 2,000 standard booths.
As a major city around China's Bohai Bay Economic Circle and the eastern seaboard, Yantai is the main transport hub connecting China's east and north, along with inland regions and other East Asian countries.
In 1991, the city was ranked among the "top 50 cities in China for comprehensive strength". In 1994, it was listed as one of the 40 best cities for investment environment in China, giving it advantages to develop an international exhibition industry.
"Benefiting from hosting international exhibitions, the city is stepping up its internationalization," said Long Yongtu, secretary-general of Boao Forum for Asia.
Hosting international exhibitions has gained the city an international reputation and attracted investment from South Korea, Japan, Europe and Americas.
Sectors befitting include modern services, agriculture, livestock and fisheries. Foreign retail enterprises Parkson and Wal-Mart and finance firms Qingdao International Bank and Industrial Bank of Korea have settled in the city which is now home to more than 40 Fortune 500 firms.
Li said Yantai will improve support policies, explore exhibition resources and strive to build the city into a famous regional exhibition hub that meets international standards in three to five years.
According to the plan, Yantai will form a new structure based on big international exhibitions by 2010. In 2015, the total exhibitions held in the city are projected to number 120, including 15 international exhibitions and eight to 10 brandname exhibitions. The overall exhibition area is expected to reach 1 million sq m.
Source: China Daily
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