Chengdu Hosts World Biomaterials Olympiad, Embraces More Global Events

CHENGDU, China, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The 9th World Biomaterials Congress, hailed as the Biomaterials Olympiad, is being held in Chengdu, capital of southwestern China's Sichuan province, from June 1 to June 5, the first time the event has been held in China since it first took place in 1980.

During this five-day event, more than 3,000 leading experts, scholars and government officials around the world have exchanged ideas regarding cutting-edge biomaterials technology and brainstormed about the development of the industry, making it one of the most influential and largest international conventions ever staged in Chengdu.

Outbidding many other cities thought to have a better chance of holding the event, Chengdu demonstrated its strength in the field of biotechnology as a trade hub for both Western and traditional Chinese medicine.

"The 9th World Biomaterials Congress being held in Chengdu, shows that China biomaterials science and engineering has stepped onto the world stage and has reached an internationally advanced level. Chengdu has become a R&D and international exchange center in the area of biomaterials. And so, congress is expected to further boost the area's thriving biotechnology industry," said Chen Lin, Director of the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition.

Congress has pooled a number of well-known experts in biomaterials, including Mr. Nicolas Peppas, Chairman of International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering, and Mr. Qian Xu, member of National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. On top of that, nearly 100 companies including Instron, Zimmer, Bose, Agilent and Invibio set up booths at the expo.

Nicholas A. Peppas spoke highly of the organization of the Congress. "I express the sentiments of the Executive Committee and the delegates of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering that this has been a most successful World Congress." 

With an appealing environment and quality service, Chengdu is now a preferred location for both domestic and international exhibitions.

Internationally influential events held in the city last year included the 9th East Asia Forum, the 2011 APEC SME Summit, the 12th Western China International Fair and a conference of the China-US joint commission on trade and commerce.

This year, in addition to the World Biomaterials Congress, Chengdu has already hosted the China National Sugar and Alcoholic Commodities Fair as well as the Asia regional conference on airline routes. Joining the lineup will be a total of 60 top domestic exhibitions and expos arriving in the city over the course of the year, up 15 percent from the previous year according to government data.

Earlier this year, the leading business magazine Fortune, announced the city of Chengdu will be hosting the Fortune Global Forum next June. Besides the Fortune forum, other planned premium conferences held in the city in 2013 include the World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention.

Rapid economic growth, a thriving tourism sector and a strong aviation industry have endowed the city with advantageous development conditions for exhibitions, not to mention its "soft power" enabled by its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, delicious food as well as a relaxing lifestyle.

Reflecting part of Chengdu's developed hardware infrastructure, statistics indicate that the city has attracted 212 of the world's top 500 firms, 13 out of the top 20 leading global software companies, 40 multinational delivery centers, nine consulates and branches of 13 foreign banks.

Furthermore, a total of 33 international cargo and passenger air routes now link the city to the outside world as well.

According to government data, the city's exhibition area for events reached 2.33 million square meters in 2011, up 22.26 percent from a year earlier. A total of 96 million visitors, exhibitors and tourists arrived to attend the events, representing a rise of 19.61 percent year-on-year.

These figures give weight to a blue paper made by the China Conference and Hotel Alliance last year that ranked Chengdu among the top cities in China's exhibition sector.

As part of the expansion plan in a bid to cope with more challenges, the city has mapped out a blueprint to speed up the construction of exhibition facilities. The Tianfu New Town in southern Chengdu, the second phase of the Century City Exhibition Center, the city's largest venue, the New Century Global Center and the New Century Modern Art Center are all in the pipeline.

"Our goal is to build Chengdu into an internationally influential destination for exhibitions and conferences, with professional services and an international environment which will help result in a branding effect," Chen added.

About Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition or China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Chengdu Sub-council: The bureau is a government institution which acts as regulator for exhibition industry and is responsible to apply for and hold major expo events both at home and abroad; formulate development plans for the industry; provide one-stop services for exhibition activities held in Chengdu city as well as promote trade co-operations and international exchanges with global partners. Please log on www.cbe.gov.cn for more information.

Contact:

Zheng Hao
[email protected]
0086-28-61887838

SOURCE China Council For the Promotion of International Trade Chengdu Sub-council