Nine themed exhibitions of 2023 CIFTIS have be held at Shougang Park, Beijing. (PHOTO: S&T Daily TANG Zhexiao)

The 2023 edition of The China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), themed "Openness Leads Development, Cooperation Creates a Win-Win Future," was held from September 2 to 6.

As President Xi Jinping addressed the 2023 CIFTIS via video, the world's second-largest economy is taking a step further in opening up its services sector and strengthening cooperation to propel global economic recovery.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, the country is committed in promoting high-standard opening up and advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development, thereby providing all countries with new opportunities for openness and cooperation.

CIFTIS, started in 2012, exemplifies that as a platform for greater global engagement. With an exhibition area of 155,000 square meters, the 2023 CIFTIS has attracted exhibitors from 59 countries and regions as well as 24 international organizations.

The UK, the guest country of honor for the 2023 CIFTIS, has assembled its largest-ever delegation for the fair this year, according to Sima Hong, vice-mayor of Beijing. A number of events, forums, and exhibition tours that cover the financial, sports, and creative sectors were carried out during the summit.

A seminar about the challenges and opportunities of deepening digital transformation hosted by a global tech consultancy company was held at the UK Pavilion on September 3. 

With 51 offices in 18 countries, Thoughtworks has benefited from China's talent and infrastructure advantages in informatization and digitalization in the past decade. Xiao Ran, General Manager of Thoughtworks China, told S&T Daily that the people who engaged in the knowledge-intensive service industry would be very excited about sharing the outcomes of China's modernization with the rest of the world.

"China is moving towards high-quality and sustainable development, and we have used some of the products and services developed in the Chinese market to help other countries and regions worldwide to embrace the new era of digitalization," said Xiao, adding that he believed China's innovation and its output can help the world become more digital, intelligent and greener in the new era. 

A forum about DMA talents' development has been held at the UK Pavilion. (PHOTO: TANG Zhexiao/S&T Daily)

The UK Pavilion also held another forum with the theme of "Transformation and Cultivation of Innovative Financial Talents in the Digital Era" on September 4.

The forum, organized by AICPA & CIMA, shed light on the Digital Management Accounting (DMA) talents' development. 

Liu Dongjin，director of China International Talent Exchange Foundation, stressed that promoting the DMA knowledge system and certification within China and integrating cutting-edge international management accounting knowledge with advanced digital skills will provide knowledge concepts and method tools that are in line with international standards. It will also inject new vitality into the cultivation of international and digital management accounting talents that are in short supply in China.