Global service, mutual benefit and sharing. In one month, the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services will open in Beijing.
Based on the opening year of the 15th Five Year Plan, as a national level important platform for China's high-level opening-up to the outside world, this year's Service Trade Fair focuses on showcasing achievements and seeking cooperation in key areas of service trade. What practical highlights will be presented in various thematic sections and hundreds of forum negotiation activities? What are the new changes in the physical space that carries exhibitions?
Attracting global attention, more than 300 international leading enterprises will participate in the exhibition
The reporter learned that the exhibition recruitment work for the theme and special exhibitions of this year's China International Fair for Trade in Services is coming to an end. As of now, nearly 70 countries (regions) and international organizations, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Brazil, Australia, World Trade Centers Association, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, have confirmed their participation in exhibitions. More than 740 companies and institutions have expressed their intention to participate offline, including over 300 Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders.
Hanning, Counsellor of the Norwegian Embassy in China and Head of the Norwegian Innovation Agency in China, said that as the guest country of honor for this year, Norway plans to establish a 260 square meter Norwegian National Pavilion in Shougang Park, which will gather achievements in multiple fields such as marine industry, marine and animal nutrition, agriculture, energy, health, and digital services.
This year's Service Trade Fair organized the "Overseas Service Promotion Roadshow" series of activities for the first time, and has collected nearly 40 shows. It also set up an "Overseas Service Enterprise Exhibition Area" for the first time, bringing together more than 30 overseas service enterprises in finance, law, accounting, advertising, human resources and other fields to provide one-stop overseas services.
A large number of innovative achievements and heavyweight activities will be showcased together. Capital Exhibition Group is one of the organizers of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Wei Mingqian, Deputy General Manager of Beichen Group, stated on behalf of the Capital Exhibition Group that companies and institutions such as Alibaba and Schneider plan to release more than 180 innovative achievements, covering multiple fields such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, and green low-carbon. More than 190 forums, conferences, and promotional activities will be held by relevant countries, international organizations, provinces, municipalities, and special programs, and multiple authoritative reports will also be released.
The major institutions and enterprises participating in the exhibition are targeting the broad development prospects of the Chinese economy and important opportunities for strengthening cooperation. Zhang Mingyi, the managing partner of Anyonghua North District, stated that the China International Fair for Trade in Services will continue to build a platform that connects the global service market and promotes high-level opening up to the outside world. Looking forward to using the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services to showcase the company's innovative practices in sustainable development and cross-border economic and trade fields, connect with more cooperation opportunities, and jointly explore new opportunities in service trade.
Link international services for better quality, multiple service measures benefiting all parties involved
In the first half of 2026, the total import and export volume of services in China reached 3779.75 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.3%. The export growth rate of personal cultural and entertainment services and other fields was impressive, becoming an important force driving the growth of service trade. Based on the competitive advantage of the service industry, Beijing deepens the integration of culture, commerce, and sports in the service trade fair, and creates a diversified activity matrix.
Before the Service Trade Fair, the second phase of Yongding Heji will make a brand new appearance, allowing exhibitors and citizens to have an immersive gaming experience of "exhibiting during the day and enjoying the scenery at night". During the exhibition, the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) also plans to launch two boutique night tours. Exhibitors can enjoy the scenery of Yongding River or enter the industrial heritage park to experience science fiction projects and specialty cuisine.
Hu Hao, Deputy District Mayor of Shijingshan District, said that the local area will increase the supply of cultural products, launch the "Sunset Return Letter" autumn theme activity, set up four interactive experiences, and promote the deep linkage of "events+exhibitions" to activate regional development vitality.
In terms of supporting service guarantee, the local authorities have coordinated resources from multiple parties, activated 30 parking lots, provided tens of thousands of parking spaces, and opened two free shuttle lines for the service trade fair. Simultaneously expanding and optimizing the surrounding accommodation supply, comprehensively optimizing the travel and accommodation experience of merchants and tourists.
Industrial heritage is revitalized and upgraded, and the exhibition town is transformed into a butterfly
Entering the Shougang Park venue of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), it is a bustling scene where builders are intensifying efforts to improve the facilities of the exhibition hall.
Since the first landing of the 2021 Service Trade Fair special exhibition in Shougang Park, the supporting construction of the exhibition has continued to iterate and upgrade. In 2025, the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) will be held at Shougang Park in a centralized location. On August 9, 2026, the permanent venue renovation project of Shougang Park Service Trade Fair was fully completed and delivered, presenting a brand new image as a "convention and exhibition town". Looking down, the exhibition cluster of the exhibition town complements the iconic landscapes of the ski jumping platform, steel blast furnace, and other parks.
The reporter learned that the exhibition town draws on international trends and concepts to build a garden style international exhibition settlement that is suitable for exhibitions, negotiations, cultural tourism, and leisure. It is committed to creating an international exchange platform that carries national level opening up events and promotes cross-border economic and trade cooperation.
Jiang Nan, Deputy General Manager of Shougang Group Co., Ltd., introduced that the newly built exhibition town has established a mature and complete space and service system, relying on the central axis and overlapping square streets to form an overall spatial structure of "one ring and six axes". The total construction area of this renovation is 144600 square meters, and the spatial layout is based on the original industrial texture, organically activating industrial relics such as the four blast furnaces and one coke oven. At the same time, relying on the ecological resources of the Yongding River system, the landscape corridor is fully connected.
Intelligence is a major feature of exhibition towns. The reporter learned that the upgraded operation service center of the park and the AI Shangshou Steel Park mini program have built a smart exhibition management platform, realizing one click query of venue information, parking navigation, catering services, transportation connections, and full time thermal analysis of park passenger and vehicle flow, providing one-stop smart services for exhibitors and tourists.
One month later, when the curtain of the China International Fair for Trade in Services opens, this permanently established exhibition town will once again welcome guests from all over the world under the name of openness, and join them in a grand service trade event that connects the world.