Transformed industrial site showcased at CIFTIS

As one of the support venues of the ongoing 2019 China International Fair for Trade in Services, an industrial heritage park in Beijing's Shijingshan district is showcasing how the city's industrial landscape has been transformed and rejuvenated over the years.

Once the production site of steelmaker Shougang Group, in the decade since it moved its operation from Beijing to Caofeidian, Hebei province, the park has been transformed to help numerous events from exhibitions and openings to forums and conferences.

The 2019 CIFTIS, running from Tuesday to Saturday in the capital, is the world's first State-level, international and comprehensive fair for trade in services.

More than 170 forums and trade negotiations are scheduled for this year's fair, which covers 150,000 square meters, three times the exhibition space of last year.

With the National Convention Center serving as the main site, several support venues were launched for the first time - among them the industrial heritage park of Shougang Group in western Beijing.

Shougang Industrial Park has been an official partner of the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, with its face-lifted facilities set to be used as winter sports training venues.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the winter sports training center for the General Administration of Sport of China have settled in the park.

"The renovated Shougang Industrial Park and Shijingshan district have made their CIFTIS debut this year," said Zhou Xisong, deputy chief of the district. "As a subsidiary venue, the park allows Shijingshan people to learn more about the world and for people worldwide to learn about the development opportunities in the district."

Themed "Winter Olympics and Urban Development", Shougang Industrial Park is scheduled to host three forums and several exhibitions during the 2019 CIFTIS.

The main forum scheduled for Thursday is expected to attract a raft of attendees from China and abroad. They will discuss how to make full use of the opportunities brought about by the Winter Olympics. The guests include high-ranking officials, heads of international organizations, senior executives at world-leading companies, specialists and scholars.

Another forum, focusing on science and technology services for the 2022 Winter Olympics, will promote cutting-edge technologies from Zhongguancun - Beijing's high-tech hub - that will be used during the Games, including augmented reality, virtual reality, 8K ultra-high definition technology, 5G and artificial intelligence.

Exhibitions held at the support venue will show the industrial heritage of Shougang Industrial Park, the achievements in renovating and repurposing it and the progress in preparing for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Shijingshan district's innovative development concepts in transforming the industrial structures and in redefining their urban functions will also be on display.

"CIFTIS is a platform that perfectly fits the development of Shougang Industrial Park," Zhou said. "As the park prioritizes the development of the service industry, the sector is expected to account for 90 percent of its businesses."

zhangdandan@chinadaily.com.cn