The transformation of Beijing's Shougang Park – from steel production hub to global collaboration arena – set the stage for CIFTIS 2025, where industrial echoes gave way to multilingual dealmaking. Nearly 70 countries and regions joined 2,000 enterprises at this year's China International Fair for Trade in Services, running September 10-14.
Industrial Heritage Meets Modern Vision
Former blast furnaces now frame exhibition halls where tech startups demo AI solutions alongside traditional tea ceremony demonstrations. 'This space embodies China's evolution,' noted a Singaporean fintech exhibitor, gesturing at preserved factory cranes overhead. 'We're literally building the future on industrial foundations.'
Nine Sectors, Countless Connections
From a South Korean VR tourism booth to German green energy consultants, the fair's nine service sectors revealed unexpected synergies. A highlight: Chinese medical AI developers partnering with Kenyan telehealth providers to prototype low-bandwidth diagnostic tools.
The Human Algorithm
Beyond signed contracts, organizers emphasized cultural exchange – Japanese robotics engineers debating ethics with Indian philosophers, while Indonesian coffee exporters sampled beans with Shanghai baristas. 'Deals start with handshakes,' remarked a Swiss logistics CEO, 'but they're sealed through shared meals.'
