Chinese entrepreneurs can be found scattered across the globe, all with an innate sense of business that has made them a potent force in international trade. To illustrate the importance of entrepreneurs, at the 100th Chinese Export Commodities Fair (CECF) held in Guangzhou in October, Premier Wen Jiabao met with Zheng Mingru, Permanent Honorary President of the World Chinese Entrepreneurs General Association (WCEGA), and awarded him a medal for his sterling work in connecting Chinese business people worldwide. After the fair, WCEGA Executive President Liao Junqiao shared his thoughts with Beijing Review on Chinese business people's role in promoting world trade.

Beijing Review: What has been the role of the Chinese Export Commodities Fair?

Liao: The fair has the longest history of its kind in China with the most abundant commodities, highest quality and largest volume of business.

During the first CECF held in 1957, many Chinese business people worldwide received invitations through WCEGA branches in their countries to participate in the fair. However, at that time, many countries did not have diplomatic relations with China and local WCEGA branches actually played the role of coordinating diplomacy between China and the countries where they were located through promoting commodity trade. Through participating in CECF, Chinese business people could support China's trade with the countries where they lived, as well as increase their business opportunities.

We can say WCEGA branches, and various Chinese guilds, clansmen associations and hometown associations worldwide, plays irreplaceable role in the success of CECF development in forms of organizing clients and connecting foreign business people, providing a solid basis for CECF to expand continuously. The number of purchasers to the CECF increased from several thousand in the first fair in 1957 to 300,000 in the 100th fair this year; meanwhile, the business volume also increased from several million U.S. dollars in the first fair to $30 billion in the 100th fair. Actually, Chinese business people worldwide contributed greatly to CECF growth.

Premier Wen Jiabao announced that from the 101st Chinese Export Commodities Fair, the name of the fair will be changed to the Chinese Import and Export Commodities Fair. How significant is this?

I think it is a great decision in setting a proper position for the fair. Currently, China is playing an increasing role in world economic development because of its large population, vast territory and rapid economic development. Meanwhile, China's influence on the world stage also keeps increasing. As a rising country, China should assume its responsibility in world development, serving as one of the engines of the economic development of Association of Souheast Asian Nations, Asia and even the whole world.

Starting from the 101st fair, China will add a new function of import commodities to the authoritative market trading platform, which will exert a great influence on the world. Through adding the word "import" to the fair name, China means to further open its market, increase the trade scope, intensify its exchanges with foreign business circles and introduce advanced foreign exhibition experiences.

How developed is China's exhibition sector?

China's exhibition sector has developed very fast in recent years, especially in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Dalian, Zhuhai, Nanning, Tianjin and Yiwu. Exhibitions in these cities have different characteristics. Guangzhou puts its focus on trade, Shanghai on finance, Shenzhen on scientific research while Dongguan, Dalian and Zhuhai mainly hold periodic exhibitions, and Nanning and Tianjin hold more regional exhibitions.

Exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are often systematically organized and are capable of serving several hundred thousand buyers; exhibitions in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Nanning are often unique and may deeply impress participants.

In my opinion, the hosts of China's exhibitions should change from the governments to chambers of commerce and the forms should also change from planned mode to market-oriented mode, from comprehensive exhibitions to specific exhibitions, from exhibitions for common people to exhibitions for professionals, from short-term exhibitions to long-term exhibitions, from domestic exhibitions to international exhibitions and from independent hosting to cooperative hosting, which will all further promote the development of China's exhibition economy.

How will WCEGA cooperate with China in promoting the development of the exhibition sector?

WCEGA will launch comprehensive cooperation with China in this regard. We are currently constructing a 30-story WCEGA Tower in Singapore, making it a central service center to coordinate its members in 192 countries and regions worldwide. Of course, China is always our trustful cooperation partner, covering cooperation from organizing overseas Chinese business people to invest in China to organizing overseas Chinese business people to buy in China, and from organizing overseas Chinese business people to participate in Chinese exhibitions to cooperating with China in organizing exhibitions.

During the five years from 2007 to 2011, WCEGA will put its focus on intensifying cooperation with China in the areas of exhibition, sports and social welfare. In the exhibition sector, taking into consideration the different characteristics of Guangzhou, Beijing and Macao in holding exhibitions, we plan to hold the conference for the world's Chinese business people, WCEGA annual meeting, WCEGA summit, WCEGA forum and WCEGA expos, as well as a fair for world famous Chinese brands and an investment conference for the world's Chinese business people.

In the sports sector, we combine the geographical and facility advantages in Tianjin and those in Macao to host sports games for Chinese business people worldwide and Chinese heritage expos. Currently, WCEGA has signed an international venue in Macao to host the WCEGA annual meeting and awards ceremony in October 2007. Meanwhile, we also signed letters of intent with the Beijing and Tianjin governments and related commercial associations to hold a Chinese business circle summit and forum. In this regard, WCEGA will play its due function to facilitate exchanges among Chinese business people worldwide.

What is the relationship between the economy of the chamber of commerce and that of the exhibition sector?

With the deepening of economic globalization, the world community pays more attention to economic and commercial development. As industrial and commercial bodies of a country, as well as non-governmental organizations, chambers of commerce have the function of coordinating governmental functions and enterprises' demands.

History shows that the economic development of Europe and America is accompanied by the development and growth of chambers of commerce. In Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, many countries also attach great importance to the construction of chambers of commerce. Leaders of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia show their strong support for the work of the Chinese entrepreneur association branches, and presidents and prime ministers of some countries even participated in the inauguration ceremony of directors of WECGA branches. They also arrange for members of the Chinese entrepreneur association branches to accompany their state visits, and actively participate in ribbon- cutting ceremonies of various exhibitions and summits held by WCEGA.

The Chinese Government further intensifies the functions of various associations, changing more than 20 out of 50 ministerial offices under the State Council into associations. Such reforms not only accelerate the transfer from a planned economy to a market economy, but also intensified the functions of chambers of commerce, strengthening China's guild management and coordination.

Regarding China's exhibition sector, it is developing from an economic event to an industry, playing its role as an information leader in China's economic development. From exhibitions, we can find market demands, enterprises' supplies, the trends of product development and citizens' buying power, all of which will leave a direct impression on entrepreneurs, politicians and economists.

Combined with the chambers of commerce, China's exhibition industry will have a brighter future. I believe the economy of the chambers of commerce will serve as the second strong force in promoting the world economy in the future, especially in China.