Ole Döring, a German sinologist, stands beside a Chinese medicine cabinet-like installation at the Frankfurt Book Fair booth at the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), which opened Thursday. In the installation lies the English-language “The Compendium of Materia Medica,” translated from the classic Chinese encyclopedic medicine book “Ben Cao Gang Mu,” written by Li Shizhen in the 16th century. It is the first time that the world’s largest trade fair for books is participating in the ICIF.   (Story on P3) Cao Zhen

Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

THE 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), China’s premier cultural fair, officially began Thursday at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District.

After 20 years of development, the fair’s role in promoting global cultural exchanges has never been more significant.

This year’s ICIF, which runs through Monday, features eight exhibition halls displaying over 120,000 cultural products at its main venue in Bao’an. For the first time in its history, the fair has established the International Cultural Trade Hall, a platform to highlight prestigious international brands.

In its first-time appearance, the New Zealand-China Investment and Trade Association highlights the immense potential for trade and cultural exchange between the two countries. The association, a nonprofit organization, was established in New Zealand in 2009.

Joshua Zong, the association’s director general, sees great potential for trade and art exchanges between Shenzhen and New Zealand due to their shared traits of inclusivity and penchant for contemporary culture.

“Shenzhen is a young city with the highest ratio of migrant population to total population. New Zealand’s immigration numbers have also hit an all-time high. People from these two places are thus more inclusive in accepting diverse cultures and contemporary culture. So, we have introduced artwork from New Zealand to the fair,” said Zong.

“We have also selected New Zealand products this time based on the demands of the Shenzhen market. For instance, we have invited wine, organic tea, and honey companies to join the fair, considering the local people’s pursuit of high-quality life,” Zong added.

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He also mentioned that the direct flight between Shenzhen and Auckland is facilitating the participation of exhibitors from New Zealand in the fair.

The fair is presenting a wide range of Chinese cultural products.

Among them, the Creative China booth in Hall 10 is making its first appearance at the ICIF this year.

The booth is displaying more than 300 cultural and creative products from domestic representative cultural and creative organizations such as Zizai Culture Communication Co. Ltd., a Shenzhen-based comprehensive cultural service provider.

“By attending the fair, Zizai aims to form links with more sectors and industries and expand cooperation with more cities around the world to promote the movable-type printing and other innovative cultural products across the country and even the world,” said Liu Meisong, founder of the Zizai brand.

At this year’s fair, the exhibition space dedicated to international participants has  significantly expanded from 3,000 to 20,000 square meters.

(ICIF Special on P2-5)