AustCham China Attends Beijing Gov't Exhibition Symposium

On 18 December 2025, AustCham China Chair Vaughn Barber and COO Nathan Hou attended the Beijing Municipal Government & International Chambers of Commerce Symposium. The event was hosted by the Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center.

2025年12月18日，中国澳大利亚商会会长冯栢文和首席运营官侯尧宸应邀出席了北京市政府与在京国际商协会座谈会。本次座谈会由北京市投资促进服务中心主办。

▲ 图 | AustCham Chair Vaughn Barber conversing with Beijing Vice Mayor Tang Wenhong

The symposium convened key stakeholders including government departments, district authorities, state-owned enterprises, and representatives from international chambers of commerce in Beijing. Beijing Vice Mayor Tang Wenhong welcomed all participants and delivered a keynote address, reaffirming the city's commitment to implementing national policies on attracting foreign investment, deepening engagement with international chambers, and continuously improving Beijing's business environment to better serve foreign enterprises.

会议汇聚了政府部门、区政府、国有企业及在京国际商协会代表等重要参与方。北京市副市长唐文弘致辞欢迎与会嘉宾，重申北京市将持续落实国家吸引外资政策，深化与国际商协会的沟通协作，不断优化营商环境，更好地服务在京外资企业。

In his speech, Chair Vaughn Barber acknowledged Beijing's leadership in China's exhibition industry and expressed appreciation for platforms like CISCE and CIFTIS, which are highly valued by Australian businesses.

中国澳大利亚商会会长冯栢文在发言中肯定了北京市在中国会展行业的引领地位，并对链博会、服贸会等深受澳大利亚企业重视的展会平台表示感谢。

He noted, however, that China's exhibition landscape has become increasingly crowded, leading to higher costs and weaker outcomes for participants, especially SMEs. In response to these challenges, he outlined two strategic opportunities for Beijing: strengthening existing platforms by aligning with global trends—such as hybrid participation, measurable outcomes, sector depth, sustainability, digital commerce integration, and services trade—and developing new “blue ocean” areas to address unmet market demand. To illustrate this, he proposed three specific pilot initiatives: a Construction & Modular Products Showcase to help Australian buyers access cost-effective building solutions; an Agrifood Supply Chain & Cold-Chain Solutions Platform focusing on logistics and traceability alongside product exhibition; and a Green Transition Equipment & Solutions Zone to showcase scalable decarbonisation technologies.

他指出，当前中国会展活动日趋密集，导致参展成本上升、成效减弱，对中小企业影响尤为显著。对此，他提出了两大战略机遇：一方面，北京可通过融合线上线下参展、注重成果转化、深耕细分领域、推进绿色低碳、融合数字商务与服务贸易等全球趋势，提升现有展会能级；另一方面，可开拓“蓝海”领域，以满足市场尚未被满足的需求。基于此，他具体建议开展三项试点合作：设立建筑与模块化产品展区，打造农业食品供应链与冷链解决方案平台，以及创建绿色转型设备与解决方案专区。

Barber concluded by affirming AustCham China's commitment to support these initiatives through insights, network promotion, and pilot collaboration, highlighting Beijing's unique potential to lead the next generation of differentiated, outcome-oriented international exhibitions.

冯栢文总结表示，中国澳大利亚商会愿通过提供行业洞察、推广合作网络、支持试点项目等方式，积极协助北京市推动上述倡议，共同把握北京在引领新一代差异化、成果导向型国际展会方面的独特机遇。

AustCham China extends its gratitude to the Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center for the invitation and remains dedicated to fostering practical cooperation and supporting Beijing's development as a leading global hub for innovative and impactful exhibitions.

中国澳大利亚商会对北京市投资促进服务中心的邀请表示感谢，并将继续致力于推动务实合作，支持北京建设成为具有创新力和影响力的国际会展之都。