The 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) was held in Beijing from September 2 to 7. The Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing vigorously guides and supports the city's social organizations in leveraging their characteristics and strengths to participate in the 2021 CIFTIS and contribute to the building of the "two zones."
Beijing Cuisine Association held the Beijing Catering Brand Conference for the first time during this year's CIFTIS. With the theme of "New Changes in Catering Driven by Digitalization", it connects hundreds of excellent catering companies at home and abroad, promotes the digitalization and internationalization of catering, and showcases world-renowned Chinese cuisine. Ms. Pathumwadee Imtour, Minister-Counsellor of Agriculture of the Thai Embassy in China, said that China's catering market is diversified, secure and stable, and Thailand hopes to deepen and expand cooperation in food trade with China's catering industry through the CIFTIS. Mr. Morten Kruse, Minister-Counsellor of the Trade Council of the Embassy of Denmark in China, spoke highly of the new trend of digitalization of Chinese catering during the conference and hoped more Danish people would get to know the rich Chinese food culture through the CIFTIS. Mr. Chhabindra Parajuli, Minister (Economic) to the Embassy of Nepal in China, said that Nepal and China have a historical relationship in food and beverages and Chinese food has become a synonym for health and safety. He also remarked that it is very convenient for foreigners to work and live in China and it is very easy for them to try all kinds of delicious food.
The Center for China Globalization (CCG) and the Beijing "Two Zones" Office jointly held the 8th China Inbound-Outbound Forum showcasing Beijing "Two Zones" and Corporate Globalization. Under the umbrella theme of CIFTIS, international strategic dialogues were carried out around hot issues such as the new trend of global trade in services & building of Beijing "Two Zones," the new vision of the digital economy & new ecology of the trade in services industry, the new momentum of green development & new business opportunities in the Chinese market, as well as the new normal of pandemic control and healthcare & new application of digital smart technologies. Diplomatic envoys and senior officials of nearly 20 countries, policy experts from the Ministry of Commerce, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the National Medical Products Administration, and senior executives of multinational companies from Fortune Global 500 such as Qualcomm and Daimler together discussed the new paradigm of China's opening-up, the new direction of globalization and new business opportunities for Chinese and multinational companies in the restructuring of the global supply chains, industrial chains, and value chains, with the aspiration for helping Beijing open its service sector at multi-levels, in a wide range and with high quality.
The International Green Economy Association (IGEA) hosted the 2021 CIFTIS – Global Green Economy Prosperity Forum themed on "Carbon Neutrality". Mr. Rudolf Scharping, former national chairman of the Social Democratic Party and former Federal Minister of Defense of Germany, delivered a speech via video, saying that the "Carbon Peak & Carbon Neutrality" goal put forward clearly by the Chinese government plays a positive role in promoting global cooperation. He also expressed his strong belief that China will pool the strengths of all sides to make a great contribution to the development of mankind through unremitting reform and opening-up and rapid social and economic development. Her Excellency Caroline Elizabeth Wilson, British Ambassador to China, attended and addressed the forum. She said that the UK will continue to work firmly with China to combat climate change and become an active and powerful partner in China’s green development.
