The sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), scheduled to take place in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province from April 13 to 18, will focus on premium products and debut launches, said an official on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping said that new types of consumption will be the centerpiece of this year's consumer products expo where provinces, autonomous regions and direct-administered municipalities and cities across the country will showcase their own special products.
"We will focus on 'premium products' to enrich the supply of quality consumption. This year's CICPE will focus on new types of consumption such as green, health, digital, and smart products, featuring cutting-edge technological offerings including intelligent connected vehicles, smart home appliances, and AI glasses. A pavilion dedicated to 'Guochao' (Chinese fashion trends) going global will be added to bring together exhibits such as porcelain, silk, traditional Chinese medicine, cultural and museum-inspired creative products, showcasing the appeal of trendy domestic brands. Time-honored Chinese brands will display their treasured signature products that embody the legacy of craftsmanship. In addition, 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and direct-administered municipalities, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as well as cities including Shenzhen, Ningbo, Guangzhou, and Changchun, will participate with their local premium consumer goods and 'IP + consumption' creative products," said Sheng.
This year's event will serve as a platform for countries to debut their products, Sheng said, adding that products using cutting-edge technologies will also be unveiled.
"We will highlight 'first launches' to lead consumption trends. This year's Expo will strive to build a global platform for debuting premium consumer goods. It will host a series of global debuts, Asia-Pacific premieres, and China launches, bringing more high-quality products, cutting-edge technologies, and innovative achievements to the stage, and positioning the Expo as a 'starting point' and 'must-visit destination' for global trendy lifestyles," said Sheng.
"For example, new split-type flying cars, intelligent robots, and smart cultural and sports bus stations will be showcased. This year's CICPE will also continue to focus on innovations in the healthcare sector, introducing high-end medical and health product nicknamed 'CICPE Baby' that developed under the advantages of the free trade port policies. The guest province, Shanghai, will unveil a series of international debut products, trendy Chinese-style beauty products, original design items, and Shanghai custom-made premium goods," said Sheng.
Jointly hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan Provincial People's Government, the expo marks the first edition of the event since the Hainan Free Trade Port fully launched island-wide special customs operations in late last year. Canada will be the guest country of honor at this year's expo.
The main venue for this year's event will continue to be the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center. The expo will feature two dedicated sub-venues: an international yacht exhibition area in Sanya, and an international health consumption exhibition area in the Bo'ao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone.
A full schedule of events has been organized, featuring new product launches, supply-demand matchmaking sessions, and over 10 themed activities designed to stimulate consumption. Additionally, special events will focus on showcasing consumption opportunities within the Hainan Free Trade Port.
6th CICPE to highlight premium goods, debut launches
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceflight mission returned safely to Earth on Friday after completing their planned tasks aboard the Tiangong space station.
The return capsule of the Shenzhou-22 spaceship, carrying Shenzhou-21 astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 20:11 Beijing Time (1211 GMT), according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The returned astronauts were reported to be in good physical condition after landing, according to staff on site.
Zhang Lu was the first to exit the return capsule after it touched down on Earth.
"I'm thrilled to once again return to the embrace of our motherland. The Shenzhou-21 crew's seven-month stay in orbit would not have been possible without the care of our families and comrades, the support of leaders at all levels and all colleagues involved in the project, and above all, the backing of our country and our people. One sentence sums up my thoughts on my second space mission: 'It takes a whole team's devotion to make one person's voyage into the sea of stars,' " Zhang said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) shortly after he was carried out of the return capsule.
"I also have a gift to share with everyone. On the day of the Shenzhou-21 launch, the ground support team gave us an apple, wishing us a safe and smooth mission. Our safe return is their greatest wish. Tomorrow is May 30, the National Science and Technology Workers' Day. So when we left the space station, we specifically brought back an apple. We want to give it to all science and technology workers, and say 'thank you for your hard work'. At the same time, I wish our space industry continued prosperity, and every mission safe and smooth," he said.
"Returning to Earth and to the embrace of our motherland, I feel extremely secure and proud. Being entrusted with such a significant responsibility in my first space mission is a great honor. It is the trust of my country, the guidance of my predecessors, and the teamwork of the entire crew that enabled me to successfully complete the mission. This mission has taught me that the most beautiful posture of youth is to march out for the country. I will turn this space experience into the driving force for my continued progress, and continue to fight and strive for the manned space program," said crew member Wu Fei.
"From the ground laboratory to China's space station, it is our great motherland that has enabled me to achieve a perfect integration of my scientific ideals and spaceflight dreams. With the support of the entire project team, the assistance of researchers and scientists, and the care of so many people, our crew has worked as one and successfully completed all assigned scientific projects, including the first successful in-orbit breeding of small mammals, the growing of a thriving space vegetable garden with an even wider varieties, and the collection of valuable data from projects such as in-situ electrochemical and optical studies on lithium-ion batteries," said Zhang Hongzhang, who was the last of the astronauts to exit the spacecraft.
"Looking at Earth from space, I deeply felt that humanity is an indivisible community with a shared future. Now that I am back on Earth and have returned to my motherland, I feel an immense sense of security and warmth. Going forward, I will continue to build on these achievements and contribute to making China a strong power in space, science and technology," he said.
The returned crew members will now head to Beijing by plane and enter a quarantined recovery period, during which they will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health assessments and start their recuperation process.
Prior to their return, the astronauts completed all planned tasks and handed over the space station to their three colleagues of the Shenzhou-23 mission who boarded the space station on May 25.
The crew's planned stay in-orbit was extended by approximately one month to further verify the technologies regarding the long-term stay of astronauts in orbit and fully use the supplies delivered by the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft in an emergency launch.
The Shenzhou-21 crew's original spaceship, which sent them into space on Oct 31 last year, was previously returned to Earth carrying the astronauts of the preceding Shenzhou-20 mission after tiny cracks were found in the viewport window of the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft's return capsule. That spacecraft was later safely brought back to Earth.
Shenzhou-21 crew return to Earth after successful seven-month mission in space
