摘要：China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), Beijing, capital of China, September 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), Beijing, capital of China, September 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

ByBelunn Se

From September 10 to 14, 2025, the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) is being held in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 10 sent a congratulatory letter to the 2025 edition of the Fair and pointed out that China is willing to work with all parties to jointly promote open and innovative cooperation in global trade in services, build an open world economy, and continuously inject new impetus into building a community with a shared future for humanity.This year's theme, "Digital Intelligence Leading, Revitalizing Service Trade," not only captures the global development trend of service trades but also delivers a clear message to the world: An open China will take a more proactive stance to advance cooperation in service trades and share new opportunities for growth.

From 'showcase'to 'cooperation hub'

As the world's first and largest comprehensive exhibition dedicated to service trades, CIFTIS has, since its launch in 2012, attracted nearly 1.19 million exhibitors, traders, and participants from 198 countries and regions, along with more than 800 international business associations and institutions. Over 13 years of growth, CIFTIS has evolved into both a vital window showcasing China's achievements in service trades and an important platform for advancing international cooperation.

The "circle of friends" keeps expanding, and cooperation keeps deepening. Whether in finance, logistics, culture, education, healthcare, or technology, what stands behind the exhibition booths is the invisible hand of service trades supporting economic globalization. Service trades not only drive the transformation of growth models but is also quietly reshaping patterns of global cooperation.

China's new engine: The rise of services

China's growth has long been driven by manufacturing and goods exports, cementing its role as the "world's factory." But as structural adjustments and the push for high-quality development deepen, modern services are emerging as a new "engine."

Unlike traditional sectors such as transportation, lodging, or retail, modern services are knowledge- and technology-intensive. They include finance, telecommunications, healthcare, education, information technology, cultural and creative industries, as well as R&D and design. What these industries provide is not tangible goods, but an intangible value – products of talent, expertise, and institutions.

The scale of this shift is striking. In 1994, services accounted for only 34.7 percentof China's GDP; by 2024, that figure had climbed to 56.7 percent. While this remains below the 70 percent+ seen in developed economies, the gap is closing rapidly. In 2024, China's trade in services reached 7.5 trillion yuan, up 14.4 percentyear-on-year, securing its position as the world's second-largest for several consecutive years. Digital services and knowledge-intensive services are expanding particularly fast. China is no longer merely a "follower" – in some areas, it has become a "leader."

Why does this matter? Economic history offers the answer. Once per capita GDP exceeds $10,000, consumption patterns shift: households spend less on goods and more on services. This transition is already underway in China. Demand for healthcare, education, tourism, and cultural experiences is growing rapidly – a clear sign of "consumption upgrading." At the same time, global competition is forcing adjustments. Despite its manufacturing strength, China's share of trade in services still lags behind most G20 countries, leaving ample room for growth.

If the 20th century was defined by factories and shipping containers, the 21st century may be defined by software, data, design and culture. Services are more than a statistical shift – they represent China's economy development strategic pivot. In rebalancing the economy and value chain upstream, the service sector is emerging as a new engine, propelling China's comprehensive competitiveness toward a new blue ocean.

A view of Shougang Park, the venue of CIFTIS, in Beijing, September 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Digital intelligence: Accelerating the trade in services engine

Digital intelligence is becoming the core engine driving the "gear shift" and acceleration of trade in services. Cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are profoundly reshaping the landscape of the services trade, injecting powerful digital momentum into traditional industries.

In healthcare, 5G networks enable near-instant remote consultations, while AI significantly improves the accuracy of imaging diagnostics. In education, digital platforms powered by IoT create immersive online learning experiences, extending cross-border education services to global users.

The transformation of the cultural and creative industries has been particularly striking. Take Ne Zha, a blockbuster Chinese animated film, as an example: by leveraging cloud computing and AI for 3D rendering, production timelines that once took months have been reduced to weeks, all while delivering sharper visual effects and richer scene design. Meanwhile, cross-border e-commerce platforms are using smart algorithms to precisely match supply with demand, and intelligent logistics networks are optimizing global distribution.

Equally noteworthy is the rise of digital platforms and social media, which have enabled culture and content to "go global" at an unprecedented speed. Platforms such as TikTok and the international version of Xiaohongshu have opened new channels for the global circulation of Chinese cultural products. With "content as king" and platforms as the key battlegrounds, the digitalization of trade in services is unlocking new possibilities for cultural exchange and value creation on the world stage.

Cultural confidence: A new lever in global competition

The rise of cultural exports is no accident but the result of China's economic strength, industrial upgrading, and growing social confidence. It represents not only a strategic choice by enterprises but also a manifestation of national cultural soft power.

From China's Labubu, and even Ne zha – a cultural icon that raked in $453 million at the international box office – these Chinese stories are coming to life on the global stage. They convey more than just product value; they carry cultural identity and emotional resonance.

In the past, we went global through products. Today, we go global through values. Cultural export is not the destination – it's the true starting point for Chinese companies to become global players.

In the past, China went global with products; now, it goes global with values. Cultural exports are not the end point but the true starting line for Chinese enterprises'globalization journey.

A path to win-win: Seeking the future through openness

At a time when the Asia-Pacific region and global industrial landscape are undergoing profound adjustments, service trade is playing a more prominent role as both a connector and lubricant. For China, further opening up and deepening cooperation are inevitable choices to promote high-quality development in services and service trade.

This is precisely where CIFTIS delivers its value. It is not just a showcase but a cooperation hub; not just an observation window but a direction for the future. It demonstrates China's openness to the world and provides new opportunities for all countries to pursue development together.

Facing unprecedented changes unseen in a century, China is leveraging digital intelligence and innovation to elevate service trade to new heights. On the path of cooperation and mutual benefit, China and the world will only move closer together.

Belunn Se, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a senior industry observer based in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province.

来源：中国网