China to boost exhibition industry via market liberalization

China is planning to boost development of the exhibition industry through market liberalization, according to a guideline released by the State Council yesterday.

根据国务院昨天公布的指导方针显示，中国计划通过市场自由化来促进会展业的发展。

A ministerial joint conference, including a dozen central government departments, will be established to coordinate the formulation and implementation of new market rules, the guideline said, setting a deadline of 2020 for China to have an exhibition center “with a sound development environment and a high level of internationalization.”

政府将成立一个包括12个中央部门的部级联席会议，以协调制定和实施新的市场规则。根据该指导方针，到2020年，中国将会有一个“具有良好发展环境和高国际化水平”的展览中心。

Licensing of economic and technological exhibitions will be gradually delegated to provincial-level commercial authorities, while the number of government-funded exhibitions will be reduced. In their place, private companies are encouraged to organize and sponsor such events, according to the plan.

根据计划，经济技术展览会行政审批权限将逐步下放至省级商务主管部门，而政府出资的展览数量将减少。当地政府也鼓励民营企业组织这样的活动。

It said China will guide big exhibition companies to acquire, merge with or buy stakes in foreign counterparts to establish multinationals.

中国将引导大型展览公司收购兼并或购买国外同行的股份来建立跨国公司。

Small exhibition firms will meanwhile enjoy tax breaks, and customs procedures will be streamlined to facilitate cross-border events.

小型展览公司将同时享受税收减免以及海关程序的简化，以方便跨境活动。

The government plans to support exhibition-related sectors including transport, logistics, telecommunication, finance, tourism, catering and hotels.

政府计划支持展会相关行业包括运输，物流，电信，金融，旅游，餐饮，酒店等。

China will “set up a cooperation mechanism” for domestic and foreign exhibition companies, and invite global giants to hold events in China, according to the plan. It also said authorities will strengthen intellectual property rights protection, with rampant counterfeiting in China a big turn-off for international brands interesting in exhibiting here. China is a latecomer to the exhibition business but it has become the world’s second-largest exhibition holder in terms of the number of events and venues.

根据计划，中国将为国内外展览公司“建立一个合作机制”，并邀请全球巨头来中国举行活动。计划还说，当局将加强知识产权的保护，为那些有兴趣来中国参展的国际品牌揪出猖獗的仿冒品。在展览行业，尽管中国是一个后来者，但它在展览活动数量和展馆面积上已经跃居世界第二。