Beijing’s Shougang Park buzzed with innovation as the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) kicked off on September 2. This year’s theme, ‘Opening Up Leads Development, Cooperation Delivers the Future,’ brought together over 2,400 businesses and 80+ countries to showcase cutting-edge services across finance, tech, culture, and more. But one visitor stole the spotlight: Eakvixay Tran, a Gen Z Lao student studying in China, who called the event ‘suitable for young and old’ after an eye-opening day exploring pavilions 🚀.
‘The trip was an interesting and unforgettable experience,’ Tran said, geeking out over high-tech exhibits in the Telecommunications Pavilion and analyzing supply-chain innovations tied to his economics major. But what truly wowed him? The transformation of Shougang’s old factories into sleek tech hubs—a ‘strong contrast between old and new generations’ that felt like ‘stepping into a sci-fi movie 📽️.’
With themes from environmental sustainability to global health, CIFTIS isn’t just a trade fair—it’s a cultural mashup where heritage meets AI, and Gen Z entrepreneurs swap ideas with industry veterans. As Tran put it: ‘This is how you build the future.’
