Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – The 2026 China Convention and Exhibition Economy International Cooperation Forum opened in Wuhan on the 22nd, with renowned convention and exhibition organizations, experts, and scholars from over 20 countries and regions participating to discuss global trends in the development of the convention and exhibition economy.
Li Qingshuang, Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), stated in his address that China possesses the world's most complete industrial system and a robust innovation system, having formed over 60 emerging industries and advanced manufacturing clusters. The scale and regional reach of Chinese enterprises "going global" are steadily expanding, providing a vast market space for deepening cooperation between Chinese and foreign convention and exhibition industries.
Lin Shunjie, Chairman of the China International Exhibition Center Group Corporation, believes that the convention and exhibition industry is no longer limited to hosting short-term events, but should be upgraded to a "symbiotic partner" growing together with industries, cultivating a long-term industrial ecosystem and helping various enterprises integrate into the global industrial circle.
"The convention and exhibition economy is not limited to conventions and exhibitions themselves," said Xu Sitao, Chief Economist of Deloitte China. He mentioned that in recent years, the rise of Chinese football leagues, represented by the "Jiangsu Super League," has successfully driven regional economic growth; similarly, the convention and exhibition economy can stimulate economic vitality by creating hotspots.
Vincent Polito, CEO of the Independent Exhibition Organizers Association, suggested that Wuhan focus on key industries such as optoelectronics and life sciences, promoting the deep integration of "exhibitions + industry"; at the same time, it should strengthen investment in digitalization and talent cooperation. Furthermore, developing the exhibition economy requires building a transnational cooperation platform to broaden the dimensions of Sino-foreign cooperation.
Data shows that in 2025, Hubei Province hosted nearly 2,000 exhibitions of various types, with participants from more than 120 countries and regions, and signed contracts exceeding 300 billion yuan. As the birthplace of China's modern exhibition industry, Wuhan is accelerating its development into an international exhibition center city through measures such as optimizing the business environment, improving the policy system, cultivating market entities, and strengthening exhibition brands.
It is understood that the China International Exhibition Economy Cooperation Forum, founded in 2005, is jointly organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, the Independent Exhibition Organizers Association, and the International Congress and Convention Association. It is one of the highest-level and most influential events in the global exhibition industry. (End)
