The 2008 National Trade Promotion Conference was held in Beijing on January 28. Vice Premier Wu Yi attended the meeting and delivered an important speech. More than 300 delegates attended the conference, representing 88 local branches and industry branches of trade promotion system, as well as 16 overseas offices.

Wu Yi stressed that national trade promotion system should implement the ideas suggested at the 17th CPC Congress, and the scientific concept of development. Efforts should be focused on the overall situation of national development, exploring the trade promotion work with Chinese characteristics, and finding a broader platform for circulation of international business rules and cooperation between enterprises.

Wu spoke highly of the achievements made so far in trade promotion. She pointed out that trade promotion system has grown by leaps and bounds since the reform and opening up, especially for the last five years. National trade promotion system has given full play to its advantages such as higher level, wider channel and broader field, serving the very interest of enterprises and state in terms of foreign trade and diplomacy. Efforts can be especially seen in the promotion of exhibition industry in China, serving the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Wu Yi stressed that the trade promotion organizations should pay close attention to the international and domestic situations, focusing on the diplomatic and economic development, as well as the macro state policies. For the current and future trade promotion work Wu has put forward four pieces of demand:

First, to strengthen economic and trade exchanges between China and the rest of the world, and to further strengthen cooperation with international organizations, in order to assist Chinese enterprises in  export expansion and “going out”. Second, to be fully supportive for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.  Third, to better serve enterprises in terms of information service and exhibiting. Those small and medium-sized enterprises should be targeted as service priority in respect to field expansion and quality upgrading. At the same time IPR services should be available for domestic and foreign enterprises. Fourth, to adapt to the new situations, seeking a trade promotion mode with Chinese characteristics. Efforts should be made towards a world-class trade promotion system.

Upon recalling the year 2007, Wan said that preparation work for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo has been right in its course, including frequent contact with the BIE, cooperation with local administration, building the China Pavilion and exhibitor recruiting.

Wan indicated that the trade promotion system should conscientiously implement the spirits suggested at the 17th CPC Congress and the Central Economic Work Conference. Trade promotion system should develop in line with the general course of reform and opening up, serving the very interests of enterprises. Opportunities lying in the reform of administrative system should be made full use of to bring something new to the national trade promotion.

Source: Newsgd.com