The 16th WCIF: Focusing on Western China, Bringing Opportunities for the World

Chengdu Century City New International Convention and Exhibition Center, Venue for the 16th WCIF

The 16th WCIF, themed by "Western China, Opportunities for the World", is scheduled to be held from November 3 to November 14 in Chengdu. Now, all works are being conducted in full swing in order to make the 16th WCIF bring surprised international opportunities for all parties after two-year preparation.

Tens of promotions facilitate WCIF

Investment and trade platform function of WCIF presents new trend

In the context of slow growth of macro-economy and invitation difficulties of large-scale exhibitions, the latest news has indicated that investment attraction and exhibition invitation of WCIF are smooth and the schedule is in line with the expected target. Relevant director of Sichuan International Exhibition Co., Ltd. indicated, on the one hand, it is related to the brand awareness and influence of WCIF. So far, WCIF has been successfully held for 15 sessions. WCIF is listed as a national-level, mechanism-based and large-scale forum and fair concerning foreign affairs and included into “One Belt and One Road” strategy in Chinese Government’ White Paper.

On the other hand, it is closely linked with vigorous promotion of Sichuan Province. It is reported that provincial leaders have promoted WCIF during visit and invited important guests and well-known enterprises to participate in WCIF. Since last year, the secretariat of WCIF Organizing Committee has held several special promotions in Beijing, Shanghai, etc. The delegation of Sichuan Bureau of Expo Affairs held special promotions in 15 countries and regions like Germany and France.

Owing to joint efforts of various factors, now delegations from 75 countries and regions including China, the USA, Germany, the UK and Japan are confirmed to participate in the 16th WCIF. In China, 28 provinces (regions and municipalities) and Xinjiang Construction Corps are confirmed to participate in the Fair, and 21 cities (prefectures) in Sichuan Province apply for exhibition. Some Fortune Global 500 and well-known enterprises are confirmed to attend the Fair, including China National Nuclear Corporation, Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Sinopec, PetroChina, Huawei, Tencent, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Kobelco, DHL, Phillips, Dell, Google, Foxconn, Bank of China and CP Group.

All departments involved within the province have striven to make exhibition contents more profound. Sichuan Development and Reform Commission will give an overall display on achievements of the west development and new ideas of opening-up and development in the Western China Cooperation Hall. Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China’s Rural Work Committee plans to show development results of “three rural issues” of Sichuan Province in Sichuan Agricultural Expo Pavilion. Sichuan Provincial Economic and Information Committee will display Sichuan’s development achievements in this industry and domestic and international exchange results in the Emergency Industry Hall. Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province will show Sichuan’s technological innovation, military and civilian integration and overall innovation results in the Western China Cooperation Hall. Administration of Quality and Technology Supervision of Sichuan Province PRC will concentratedly showcase brand products of Sichuan in the Western China Cooperation Hall. The secretariat of WCIF Organizing Committee has cooperated with Sichuan Provincial Government Affairs Service and Public Resources Exchange Service Center for the first time to jointly hold the first western China public sourcing fair and relevant forums during WCIF and set up public procurement area. “Full promotion and adequate preparations facilitate WCIF to give its platform function in investment promotion and trade cooperation into full play.” Relevant director of Sichuan Bureau of Expo Affairs indicated.

For convention and exhibition, guest also can be host

Full internationalization facilitates new pattern of opening-up and development

75 countries and regions are confirmed to attend the 16th WCIF, and the number is still increasing. In addition, the guest of honor is not only a guest, but also acts as the host.

It is reported that Sigmar Gabriel, vice-chancellor of Germany and German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, plans to lead a delegation to attend the 16th WCIF. Gabriel said before, he had visited beautiful Sichuan and left good impression. He would like to promote the cooperation between German enterprises and Sichuan.

As Germany is the guest of honor, the Germany Pavilion will cover an area of over 2200 square meters. 56 German enterprises from various industries have applied for attending the exhibition. Meanwhile, Germany and the Chinese side will hold a series of relevant activities, including Sino-Germany Economic Forum, Energy Efficiency Forum, Smart Manufacturing - Industry 4.0 Sino-Germany Forum, “Germany’s Night” Reception Party and Bavaria Forum.

During the 16th WCIF, a series of brand activities and forums will be also held, including the 8th Western China International Cooperation Forum, the 9th Conference on Investing in Western China & Signing Ceremony of Economic Cooperation Contracts, the 11th China-EU Investment & Trade Cooperation Talks and the 5th High-level Forum on Sino-French Local Governments' Cooperation. These are achievements of deep cooperation between China and foreign countries and regions. These events will help Sichuan Province deepen high-level visit, economic and trade cooperation, and cultural, educational and technical exchanges with developed economies like the EU and the USA, countries and regions along the “One Belt and One Road”.

Relevant director of Sichuan Bureau of Expo Affairs believes that as other countries and regions take full part in activities and even host events with the Chinese side, international focus will be fully given to WCIF so as to enhance the international awareness of WCIF and promote full communication and exchange between Sichuan Province and international communities, thus to achieve the concept of WCIF of “cooperation, sharing and mutual benefits”.

Because of internationalization and professionalization of WCIF, 2016 China International Oil & Gas Technology Equipment Exhibition is scheduled to be held at the same time and in the same venue of the 16th WCIF. “There are many countries attending WCIF, so it is helpful to enhance the influence of oil & gas exhibition.” Yu Hongli, deputy secretary-general of China Petroleum & Petrochemical Equipment Industry Association, indicated.

“2016 Smart Manufacturing - Industry 4.0” Sino-Germany Forum

Focusing on smart manufacturing and multi-industrial innovation, integration and development

In addition to exhibition covering an area of 200,000 square meters, supporting activities and forums are also important parts of WCIF. According to relevant director of Sichuan Bureau of Expo Affairs, 70 events and activities are planned to be held during the Fair. These events and activities cover more than 10 sectors, such as investment, trade, finance, education, culture, agriculture and tourism, matching industrial characteristics of Sichuan Province. The number of professional forums like general aviation and smart car is also increasing.

Why are many professional activities and forums held during WCIF?

“The duration of WCIF is only 12 days. A series of professional forums and activities will help WCIF play a role in development of relevant industries of Sichuan Province for a longer time.” Relevant director of Sichuan Bureau of Expo Affairs indicated. Through these professional activities and forums, we can promote our industrial advantages, realize investment promotion and facilitate industrial development.

Germany is the guest of honor of the 16th WCIF. Through this opportunity, “2016 Smart Manufacturing - Industry 4.0” Sino-Germany Forum” will be held during WCIF. Following persons will be invited, including relevant directors of both Chinese and German competent departments in smart manufacturing industry, professional associations and scientific research institutes, academicians and experts of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chinese Academy of Sciences and directors of representative enterprises in advanced manufacturing field, to jointly discuss the industry opportunities and core technologies under the new trend of “Smart Manufacturing - Industry 4.0” as well as integration of IoT and modern manufacturing industry under “Internet ”, actively explore the practical schemes of Sichuan on “Made in China 2025” and promote direct cooperation of Chinese and German universities, enterprises and research institutes in relevant field. The forum is themed by smart manufacturing and multi-industrial innovation, integration and development. The conference will be undertaken by Sichuan International Exhibition Co., Ltd., Sichuan Provincial Mechanical Engineering Society, Sichuan Provincial Electrotechnical Society, Sichuan Electric Equipment Manufacturing Association, Sichuan Society of Automation and Instrument and Chengdu Association of Automation.

Topics include Sino-Germany dialog and Sichuan practice. Industry 4.0 and Made in China 2025: key technologies and development trend of smart manufacturing, interpretation of German policies for Industry 4.0, interpretation of Chinese policies for Made in China 2025, innovative smart power grid technology facilitating new energy development, smart testing technique and application, smart innovation centering on big data and cloud computing, smart manufacturing and large-scale personalized customization. Smart manufacturing and innovative design, sustainable development of re-manufacturing and manufacturing industry, thinking and practice on technical innovation of smart manufacturing, and smart manufacturing and Internet.