The just-concluded 8th Silk Road International Expo (SRIE) in Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province has been hailed by participants as a key platform for allowing businesses to showcase their high-tech potential and seek out more cooperation and investment opportunities.
The five-day event, which wrapped up on Tuesday, featured five exhibition areas focusing on international exchanges, inter-provincial cooperation, transportation logistics, advanced manufacturing, and the modern energy sector, and drew in exhibitors from 41 countries, along with 73 international business associations and enterprises.
The expo also brought together dozens of representatives from central government organizations and enterprises, as well as company delegations from all across China, who were attracted by the opportunities to advance partnerships and deepen win-win cooperation.
Local government departments in Shaanxi also sought to effectively utilize the expo and hosted over 60 investment promotion activities centered on key regional industries, with attendees hailing the success of these cooperation mechanisms in advancing business openings.
"(Through the Silk Road Expo) we support the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, integrate with local strategies, implement the country's high-level opening-up policy, and facilitate the 'going global' strategy and Belt and Road construction. Additionally, we have achieved numerous 'firsts' in terms of new orders, batches, and initial transactions in Shaanxi, offering comprehensive and high-standard support for Shaanxi enterprises to expand globally," said Zhao Daqing, Party secretary and president of the China CITIC Bank Xi'an Branch.
With a host of high-tech exhibits on display, exhibitors also hailed the expo as a key platform which allowed companies to showcase their respective strengths.
"Our products are now basically at a leading level in China, with some even being exported to various countries and regions overseas. Through this exhibition, we aim to showcase our technological capabilities and seek out more cooperation opportunities," said Tang Mengyao, director of the Special Research and Development Center of the Shaanxi Changling Electric Company.
Participants hail Silk Road Expo as key cooperation platform to 'go global'
China's box office revenue has exceeded 11 billion yuan (about 1.6 billion U.S. dollars) so far this year, maintaining its position as the world's largest single film market.
The total, including pre-sales, surpassed the mark on Thursday, according to data from Maoyan, one of the country's major online movie ticket platforms.
When the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, was in session earlier in March, the strong performance of China's film industry became a widely discussed topic among NPC deputies and national political advisers.
Many said China's leading position in the global box office marks not only a breakthrough but also a new starting point.
Driven by the "Film Economy Promotion Year" initiative, relevant authorities have been promoting cross-sector programs linking films with tourism, gastronomy and intangible cultural heritage, with the emerging "film-plus" consumption model turning box office momentum into broader growth for the real economy.
With support from the China Film Administration, local governments have rolled out a variety of movie ticket subsidy programs since the start of the year, helping reduce average ticket prices by about 6 percent and encouraging more people to go to theaters. Screenings during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday reached a record 4.35 million sessions nationwide.
A single movie ticket can spur spending in sectors ranging from dining and shopping to transportation and cultural merchandise, providing a boost to the offline economy.
Estimates show the total value generated by the film industry has exceeded 150 billion yuan (about 22 billion U.S. dollars) in 2026.
Beyond theaters, the trend of traveling with films is fueling a new wave of consumption. Regions across China are combining local cultural and tourism resources with film-related promotions, creating "film-plus-tourism" experiences that turn cinematic popularity into consumer demand.
Since the start of the year, Chinese films have not only driven the domestic box office but have also continued gaining popularity overseas.
During the Spring Festival holiday, films including "Scare Out" and "Blades of the Guardians" were released simultaneously on the first day of the Chinese New Year in more than a dozen countries and regions, including North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.
At the same time, overseas promotions for initiatives such as "China Travel with Chinese Films" are attracting more international audiences to visit China so as to experience the country's culture, natural scenery and modern development.
China's box office surpasses 11 bln yuan in 2026
