The 2024 China Brand Day events kicked off in Shanghai on Friday as the country seeks to promote the development of its brand building.
Themed "Better Quality, Bright Future for Chinese Brands", this year's edition focuses on enhancing the branding of local companies so that they can make significant strides in the global arena.
A total of 52 state-owned enterprises and over 130 local brands in China from diverse sectors are showcasing their products online and offline during the five-day event. The offline segment has been expanded to cover an area of 70,000 square meters.
The event includes various sections such as local exhibition areas, corporate exhibition areas, and new product launches, demonstrating China's achievements empowered by brand building in terms of sci-tech innovation, green development and quality services, among others.
"During the event, a series of exciting special activities will be organized on site, and the Chinese brand stories will be told through multiple levels, angles, and channels through artistic performances, interactive activities, and presentation of intangible cultural heritage. Visitors will get the opportunity to feel the power and connotation of the brands up close," said Gong Zhenzhi, deputy director of the Department of Industry of the National Development and Reform Commission.
Established in 2017, the China Brand Day is marked on May 10 every year, aiming to arouse the society's awareness on brand development and create a sound atmosphere for brand building.
Shanghai hosts brands day to promote Chinese brands
Lai Ching-te has sent a dangerous signal of seeking "Taiwan independence" and making provocations to undermine cross-Strait peace and stability in his first speech upon assuming the role of Taiwan region's new leader on Monday, according to scholars and commentators.
Many in China's Taiwan region have pointed out that while Lai Ching-te's speeches have repeatedly emphasized the importance of peace for Taiwan, they see no concrete action on how to achieve it.
"He does not listen to public opinion and displays great arrogance. He blatantly intends to continue pursuing the 'two states' theory and will attempt to solicit U.S. support for 'Taiwan independence'. [He] disregards the desire of Taiwan for easing the situation in cross-Straits relations, which will create new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait," said You Zixiang, a professor at Shih Hsin University.
"After listening to his entire speech, I feel that not only did he fail to express any genuine intentions for peaceful coexistence and common prosperity, but he used the concept of peaceful coexistence and common prosperity as a cover and disguise for creating a 'peaceful division'," said Wang Bingzhong, a commentator in the Taiwan region.
In the Taiwan region, there is growing concern across various sectors that future opportunities for communication between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will become increasingly scarce.
"[The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities] are deepening the roots of political hatred. I think that since Taiwan has already experienced the tragic 'White Terror' in the past, why should we embark on a journey of 'Green Terror'?" said Chi Chia-Lin, president of the Reunification Alliance Party.
"I'm actually very concerned. Lai Ching-te's staffing arrangements have revealed his extreme ideology, and it seems that he will continue to put stress on cross-Strait relations," said Shi Xueqin, a student at Chi Nan University in Taiwan.
Lai sends dangerous signal in first speech as Taiwan's new leader: scholars, commentators
