EXHIBITORS from 35 countries and regions along China’s Belt and Road Initiative will showcase cultural products and local specialties at the 12th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), which opens today and will last until May 16.

    The total number of exhibitors for this year’s ICIF at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center will reach 2,297, a new record, the organizer said at a press conference yesterday.

    It is the second year for the fair to set up a hall especially for countries included in the Belt and Road Initiative. Last year, 15 countries participated and exhibited mainly art entries and handicrafts.

    “The Belt and Road Initiative is a national strategy that not only has significant economic influence for China and those countries included, but also aims at tightening cultural ties,” said Wu Jiangbo, director of the Cultural Industries of the Ministry of Culture.

    Wu said that, apart from traditional crafts, the exhibitors will also exhibit modern culture and technologies. For instance, the Russian delegation applied for an area of 200 square meters this year to showcase its 3-D imaging technology, according to Wu.

    Sister cities with Shenzhen are also invited to set up stalls to showcase their unique cultural products this year. The hall will also introduce tourist attractions in the Belt and Road countries.

    Shenzhen Vice Mayor Wu Yihuan said the Belt and Road Hall expanded from 2,260 sqm to over 7,000 sqm this year.

    About 19,000 potential buyers from 98 countries and regions and 115 agencies from 40 countries and regions will attend the fair. The fair has also invited nine overseas publishers to showcase books and magazines in Hall 7 and five maker teams out of China will attend the fair at the Culture and Maker Hall.

    Last year’s fair saw a gross turnover of 264.82 billion yuan (US$42.69 billion), 13.90 percent more than the previous year. The event witnessed a total of 18,542 exhibitors from over 97 countries and regions and more than 5,200 visitors.

    As the only international cultural industries fair in China, ICIF is committed to building a trade platform for China’s cultural products and projects, driving the development of China’s cultural industries and advancing the globalization of Chinese cultural products.

    (Special reports on P3, 9-16)