The Shanghai pavilion took a star turn at the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services, held in the national capital of Beijing from Sept 12 to 16.

The pavilion highlights Shanghai's advancements in deepening its reform and opening-up – as well as in establishing the Shanghai Digital Economy Partnership Agreement cooperation zone, the pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce – and striving to become a national model for innovation and development in services trade.

Overall, Shanghai remains at the forefront of China's services and digital trade sectors.

From January to June 2024, the imports and exports value of the city's trade in services totaled $117.76 billion, while digital trade hit $54.39 billion, accounting for 24.7 percent and 30.3 percent of the national figures, respectively.

The pavilion was divided into three sections: the Shanghai DEPA cooperation zone, the trade in services innovation development zone, and the pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce.

The sections showcased cutting-edge examples of aligning with international trade rules, using new quality productive forces to enhance trade in services efficiency, and expanding international e-commerce cooperation.

The Shanghai DEPA cooperation zone focused on fostering collaboration with DEPA member countries – highlighting innovations in digital trade systems such as electronic bills of lading, e-invoicing, digital ports, and e-payments.

These developments are viewed as underscoring the transformative potential of digital technologies in reshaping global trade regulations.

Elsewhere, the trade in services innovation development zone emphasized pioneering industries such as integrated circuits, biomedicines, and artificial intelligence.

It also highlighted Shanghai's role as a hub for knowledge-intensive trade in services – showcasing the city's success in advancing its "bring in" and "go global" strategies for high-quality industrial development.

Meanwhile, the pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce underscored Shanghai's success in positioning the initiative as a key platform for expanding international cooperation in digital trade.

Moving forward, Shanghai plans to further develop the DEPA cooperation zone and the pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce, while striving to become a national demonstration zone for trade in services innovation and development.

Moreover, the city will continue aligning itself with high-standard international trade rules, promoting reforms, openness, and innovation to drive high-quality growth in the services and digital trade sectors.