A connecting conference for 50 enterprises in the conference and exhibition industry from Xiamen, Fujian province, and 70 members from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council Association (SASACA) was held on Dec 2 in Beijing to discuss potential cooperation on holding conferences and exhibitions in Xiamen.

The connecting conference, which was co-sponsored by SASACA and the Xiamen government, was an opportunity for Xiamen to attract more conference and exhibition resources and achieve its goal of a turnover of 100 billion yuan ($16 billion) in conference and exhibition tourism.

Xiamen now ranks among the top 10 conference and exhibition cities and top 10 best conference destination cities in China, and has distinct advantages such as its proximity to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao, a clean environment, a flourishing industry base, convenient transportation, top-notch venues and superb service. It is already a host city for many leading exhibitions and fairs such as the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), China Xiamen International Stone Fair and China Xiamen International Buddhist Items & Crafts Fair, said Zhang Canmin, Xiamen’s vice mayor.

Xiamen, which is focused on becoming a powerhouse in the conference and exhibition industry, domestically and internationally, will accelerate innovation and transformation to upgrade its conference and exhibition industry. It plans to increase the annual exhibition area to 2.5 million square meters, the number of annual participants to 1.15 million, and the total income from the industry to 130 billion yuan ($21 billion) by 2018, he added.

Peng Huagang, director of SASACA contacting office, said that SASACA members are significantly promoting Chinese industries. The connecting conference, which is supported by governmental departments and serves for enterprises’ communication, embodies the transformation of governmental functions and is successful in helping the Chinese economy adjust to the new circumstances. Peng said the connection between Xiamen and SASACA will benefit both and he hoped the conference could bring new business cooperation.

Zhang Kelin, executive vice president of the China Machinery Industry Federation, shared his experience of holding the West-Taiwan-Strait Auto Expo in Xiamen, which has become a famous auto exposition nationwide. Zhang praised Xiamen for its environmental and exhibition facilities, and was also satisfied with the efficient service from government and enterprises.

Xiamen, as a famous conference and exhibition tourist city, and one of the starting points of the maritime Silk Road, has geographical advantages linking the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and has a bright future in the conference and exhibition industry, according to Liang Rong, deputy secretary general of China’s General Chamber of Commerce.

The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) is responsible for contacting 370 Chinese industrial associations, covering most areas of Chinese industry and commerce. National industrial associations, which have many resources and are the main holders of conferences and exhibitions, play an important role in boosting economic development and industrial transformation. Conferences and exhibitions sponsored by 10 national industrial associations have settled in Xiamen, including the China Machinery Industry Federation, China Automobile Dealers’ Association, and China Commerce Association for General Merchandise. More than 100 professional conferences are held in Xiamen every year.

International conferences and exhibitions now are blossoming in emerging economic entities, especially in countries with huge potential markets like China. Chinese conferences and exhibitions are now expanding into second-tier and third-tier cities. Conferences and exhibitions are integrating and mutually benefiting one another. Xiamen rolled out a “Beautiful Xiamen” strategic plan in 2013, which set goals on integrating resources, industrial transformation, and building an industrial cluster for manufacturing and modern services in the west of the Taiwan Straits. Xiamen has designated its conference and exhibition industry as a competitive industry in 2014, and classified the industry into a list of 10 industries to gain 100 billion yuan. Xiamen has also made two favorable policies and aims to make the industry a platform to link manufacturers with the market, and the industry and the market to make up an integrated development pattern of conferences and exhibitions, tourism, commerce and trade, and logistics.

Zhang Tao, deputy director of SASACA’s contact office, presided over the connecting conference. Wang Qiongwen, the director of Xiamen’s Municipal Bureau of Conferences and Exhibitions, briefed on the development of Xiamen’s conference and exhibition industry. Qiu Guoyue, director of the Industry Promotion office of Xiamen’s Municipal Bureau of Commerce, explained in detail the development environment of Xiamen’s conference and exhibition industry, its accessorial facilities, favorable policies and new plans.