Hangzhou: 2015 The Seventh Exposition Conference of Chinese Cities, supported by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the Ministry of Commerce and Hangzhou People's Government and sponsored by the China Convention/Exhibition/Event Society (CCEES) and Hangzhou Convention and Exhibition Coordination Office, was held over the weekend in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

More than 200 government officials, scholars and industrial experts participated in the conference, whichwas themed New Opportunities, New Normal Situation and New Ideas. Yu Xiaosong, former chairman of the CCPIT, Sun Guangxiang, former vice-minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation and Yuan Zaiqing, president of the CCEES, delivered speeches at the conference.

The speakers agreed that the exposition industry in China will gain new vitality by the introduction of hi-tech and "Internet +" after sharing the successful experience of the 2010 World Expo, the World Trade Organization participation and the Bo'ao Forum with the audience, and analyzing the status quo of the exposition industry in China and the comparison with its peers in developed countries.

With the arrival of the age of big data, the traditional convention and exhibition industry begins a new stage that needs to be combined with Internet technologies, which will enable the industry to move into a green, efficient and intelligent direction, they said.

The 17th West Lake International Expo was also held in Hangzhou on Friday.

Hangzhou is now the third largest international convention and exhibition city in China, next to Beijing and Shanghai. The convention and exhibition industry has become an important component of the comprehensive competitiveness of the city.

The conference aims to set up a platform for the forefront convention and exhibition concept upon exchanges in the trend of the sector during the 13th "Five-year Plan Period".

It is believed that under the joint efforts of government policy support and market competition orientation, China's convention and exhibition industry will embrace a wave of nnovation in branding, mechanism and talent.