5th China Int'l Consumer Products Expo wraps up with record-high scale

The 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) officially wrapped up on Friday in Haikou, capital of China's southernmost island province of Hainan, after attracting the participation of a record-breaking 1,767 companies and 4,209 consumer brands from 71 countries and regions, according to a press conference on Friday.

Events targeting global brands, e-commerce and country-specific suppliers led to the signing of 52 intended cooperation agreements, the value of which amounted to approximately 92 billion yuan (about 12.6 billion U.S. dollars), said Zeng Rong, chief economist at the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, at the press conference.

"This year's CICPE has placed greater emphasis on cutting-edge technology fields, with the total area of the consumption technology zone expanding by 30 percent. In particular, the new product launch event gathered 25 well-known domestic and foreign enterprises, where nearly a hundred new products made their debut, further strengthening the role of the CICPE as a barometer of global consumption trends," she said. More than 60,000 professional purchasers attended the six-day event -- representing a 10 percent increase from last year. In tandem with the expo, the Ministry of Commerce also launched the "Shopping in China" campaign to stimulate domestic consumption, and introduced a dedicated exhibition to facilitate cooperation between foreign trade firms and domestic purchasers.

Preparations for the 6th CICPE are underway, with hundreds of companies already registered or signed on to participate in the next edition of this event. "We have always been paying attention to the Chinese market, and we can feel that China is optimizing and upgrading its policies faster than we thought. So we still need to take the CICPE as an opportunity to have matchmaking with Chinese companies," said Lau Kiat Boon, a Singaporean exhibitor.

"We see lots of potential here in China, and particularly, the Chinese people love our products. So that's the reason we are here, we want to build our relationship with China and going forward," said Tom Keightley, a Irish exhibitor.

"We have closed many deals so far. Since the first day, we have received lots of business people that have many [much] interest for us," said John Echenique, a Peruvian exhibitor.

The expo is the only national-level exhibition in China focusing on consumer goods.

5th China Int'l Consumer Products Expo wraps up with record-high scale

Candlelight memorials were held across China on Saturday to honor the victims of the Nanjing Massacre during Japan's aggression against China in 1937.

The Nanjing Massacre took place when Japanese troops captured the then-Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. Over the course of six weeks, they proceeded to kill approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of WWII.

Saturday marks the 12th National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims.

In Nanjing, now the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, a candlelight memorial and international peace rally was held on Saturday night, joined by around 200 participants from China and across the world.

As night fell over the city, people from different walks of life gathered at the square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders to pay tribute to those killed.

Participants included representatives of inheritors of the historical memory of the Nanjing Massacre, descendants of international friends who aided China during the war, and young students. Dressed in plain attire, they took part in the solemn commemorative event.

Five representatives from various sectors passed along illuminated bouquets of Zijin grass, known as February orchid in Nanjing and radish flower in Japan, jointly forming a light display spelling out the word "Peace." Candles were also arranged into the shape of a dove, symbolizing the shared hope for lasting peace.

"This history is deeply cruel and painful, but we must remember it. Only by remembering history can we truly cherish the peace we enjoy today. When I grow up, I hope to work together with others to safeguard peace," said Yue Cen, a student from Nanjing Foreign Language School's Xianlin Campus.

A similar candlelight memorial was also held in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning province, where the September 18 Incident in 1931 marked the start of Japan's 14-year invasion of China.

More than 200 representatives from various sectors gathered at the 9.18 Historical Museum to pay tribute, lighting candles in memory of the Nanjing Massacre victims.

"On the National Memorial Day, the nation remembers its suffering. It reminds us to cherish the peace that was won at the cost of lives. I will study harder, strengthen my abilities, and contribute my youth to national rejuvenation," said Li Shuhang, a student from Shenyang University.

Candlelight memorials held in China for Nanjing Massacre victims