Ambitious plans

To guide the development of its convention and exhibition industry, the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Expositions formulated a "five-point strategy" that emphasizes marketing, quality, internationalization, branding and standardization, says the bureau's Mu.

According to the strategy, the market will play a more important role while the government will provide mainly guidance and services. The government will also support and foster leading enterprises in the industry.

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Chengdu will introduce more major events through improved cooperation with international organizations, ministries, commissions, national industry associations, universities and research institutes, Mu says.

The strategy also calls for bringing in more established convention and exhibition companies to help the city improve the professional level of its expo industry. The bureau of expositions has signed agreements with the China International Exhibitions Ltd and German company Koelnmesse (China) Ltd for further collaboration.

Domestic exhibition companies Space Idea International Exhibition Group and China CYTS M.I.C.E Service Co Ltd have opened branches in Chengdu. The city is also improving infrastructure for the conventions and exhibitions.

As the current Chengdu Century City New International Convention & Exhibition Center no longer meets the demands of an increasing number of events, new exhibition and convention centers have been built or are under construction.

The New Century Global Center, officially opened last September and said to be the largest multiplex in Asia, has an 18,000 sq m arts center, a convention center covering 8,000 sq m and two five-star hotels with a total of more than 1,000 rooms.

The Western China International Expo Center, the largest in central and western China, will cover 500,000 sq m, including a 200,000 sq m convention space.

The achievements in the convention and exhibition industry have enabled Chengdu to win the favor of organizations from home and abroad.

The International Congress and Convention Association accepted the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition as a member on May 27, 2013.

On Jan 10, the bureau signed a framework agreement with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, the world's largest exhibition industry association, to become one of its members. This is the first international exhibition organization Chengdu has joined.

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