The five-day 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) has concluded on Sunday in Beijing with more than 900 achievements in sectors such as construction, information technology, and finance.
This year's fair featured over 200 events, including thematic forums, matchmaking sessions, and supporting activities, in addition to the main exhibition and nine specialized exhibitions.
More than 60 countries and 20 international organizations participated, showcasing their presence through exhibition booths and promotional events.
A total of 113 companies and institutions unveiled 198 achievements in artificial intelligence, financial technology, healthcare, and green low-carbon technologies.
Among these were 109 new product launches in precision medicine, ultra-high-definition audiovisual technology, optical quantum computers, and bionic cell sensors, as well as numerous partnership agreements.
"Australia, this year's guest country of honor, engaged in negotiation and exchange activities with Chinese municipalities, provinces, as well as the CIFTIS Exhibitors Federation, resulting in 15 cooperation intentions in areas such as finance and education. The digital platform for supply and demand released more than 3,000 matchmaking projects, and nearly 8,500 business meeting invitations were initiated, enabling highly efficient client connections. According to statistics, the fair yielded over 900 achievements in fields including construction, information technology, and finance," said Zhang Huayu, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau.
Moving forward, China will continue to promote institutional openness in trade in services, fully implement the negative list for cross-border services trade, and advance the comprehensive demonstration program for expanding openness in the service sector.
"China will actively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, reduce barriers in services trade, and facilitate the cross-border flow of talent, capital, technology, data, and other production factors. We will accelerate pilot reforms in pilot free trade zones and national demonstration zones for innovative development of trade in services, and open up the services market in a well-regulated manner," said Zhu Guangyao, deputy division inspector of the Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services under the Ministry of Commerce.
2025 CIFTIS concludes with over 900 achievements in construction, IT, finance industries
A Japanese professor criticized the snap general election triggered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's dissolution of the lower house as unreasonable, which just leaves a campaign period of 16 days for a general election of the House of Representatives when Takaichi announced the decision on Jan 23.
The decision is aimed to capitalize on her cabinet's current high approval ratings, according to Japanese media, and the voting in the general election began on Sunday morning, with over 1,200 candidates competing for 465 seats in the House of Representatives.
Speaking in an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Sunday, Mikitaka Masuyama, professor at Tokyo's National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, revealed the motivations behind calling this snap election.
"From my point of view, it is just how selfish attempts to consolidate the parliamentary base for Takaichi. There is no reason to have the snap election this time around, so we have to have the delays in the execution of the budget and in the heavy snow regions, having election is very costly and makes it a lot difficult for even ordinary people to go to the voting booth. So, it is cannot be justified to have an election this time around," said Masuyama.
The primary focus of the election is whether the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) will secure a majority and allow the Takaichi administration to continue.
Speaking at a street rally on Jan 27, Takaichi said she wishes to "win the public trust," while reiterating her pledge to resign if the ruling camp fails to win a majority.
Analysts said Takaichi's decision to dissolve the lower house and call an early election while staking her position as prime minister reflects mounting internal pressures on her administration.
The recent personal scandals, economic and diplomatic policy risks, and her controversial remarks on foreign policy have made it difficult for the prime minister to fully implement her own agenda, pushing her to take a bold gamble.
"If Takaichi would win this election by landslide, she would assume the election gave her mandate. So, she probably becomes more confident in her stance on the security policy," said Masuyama.
"But I do understand that the international security environment is rapidly changing. I think we have to enhance defense capability. That does not necessarily mean that Japan to adopt a posture that could heighten the tensions with neighboring countries. I would rather see political groups gain power that enable Japan to play a more proactive role in international cooperation," he added.
Japanese expert: snap election unreasonable
