Sources say that the China International Exhibition Center willbe rebuilt in another location to make it the largest in Asia, covering an exhibition area of 200,000 square meters. The rebuilt one is expected to be put into use in 2006.

International bidding will be introduced to select the best design for the reconstruction project. Leading exhibition companies from Germany and France have demonstrated considerable interests in the project, according to sources.

Experts say that an exhibition area of some 400,000 square meters should be built in the coming five to eight years so as to meet the fast development of the local conference and exhibition industry.

China's entry into the World Trade Organization and the successful bid for holding the 2008 Olympics will bring both opportunities and challenges to the conference and exhibition industry.

Statistics show that Beijing's conference and exhibition industry has kept growing by 20 percent annually in recent years. Beijing held 1,251 conferences and exhibitions from 1996 to 2001, accounting for 50 percent of the total nationwide. International exhibitions accounted for more than 60 percent to stand at 812.

Beijing is expected to become the most dynamic Asian city in the 21st century. Fast economic development, international reputation, geographical location and large number of high-level talents will help boost Beijing's conference and exhibition industry.

At present, there are 1,700 Beijing-based conference and exhibition companies, 134 of which are entitled to organize international meetings and exhibitions, amounting for half of the national total.

(People's Daily February 6, 2002)