Visitors tour the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at Shougang Park in Beijing on September 10, 2025. Photo: Li Hao/GT

From Wednesday to Sunday, the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) is being held in Beijing. This year's fair highlights five key features - international participation, technology empowerment, authoritative releases, service branding, and interactive experiences - and aims to enhance opening-up, deepening cooperation and driving innovation, making positive contributions to building an open world economy, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Featuring nine specialized exhibitions, the 2025 CIFTIS is seeing the participation of 85 countries and international organizations, while nearly 2,000 enterprises are attending in person, according to Beijing News.

Visitors view a model showcasing scientific housing construction planning at the 2025 CIFTIS in Beijing on September 10, 2025. Photo: Li Hao/GT

One of this year's keywords is "new products." More than 100 companies are launching over 190 new products and achievements, including the world's first 3D-printed polymer, fatigue-resistant, absorbable vascular stent and China's first professional photonic quantum computer surpassing the 1,000-qubit scale, reported CCTV News.

Another keyword is "scenarios." This year's CIFTIS emphasizes technological empowerment through scenario-based demonstrations of the services trade. Examples include a digital human commentator, full-process demonstrations of AI-powered pharmaceutical research and development, and lively robot applications. Guide robots assist visitors, coffee- and ice cream-making robots prepare treats on-site, while soccer-playing robots deliver exciting performances.

A visitor experiences a smart helmet at the 2025 CIFTIS in Beijing on September 10, 2025. Photo: IC

At the fair, Global Times reporter found that the computer and communications pavilion featured humanoid guide robots with expressive faces and demonstrations of robots sorting goods. The healthcare pavilion showcased various surgical robots. In the financial services pavilion, a humanoid robot took on the part of a lobby manager. It is capable of basic conversations and answering business inquiries. Robots are also expanding into school settings. 

A visitor experiences freestyle combat with a humanoid robot at the 2025 CIFTIS in Beijing on September 10, 2025. Photo: VCG

Meanwhile, visitors can use VR devices to step into a global supply chain management system, witnessing firsthand how data drives the global flow of goods. Inside a former steel workshop, AR technology transforms abstract financial services into visual data streams, showing how cross-border payments are completed in real time. 

Beyond exhibitions, more than 40 supporting events will also be held at the CIFTIS, creating new service-consumption formats. Staged performances, cultural tourism fairs, and sports events will present diverse activities that blend culture, business, tourism, and sports, CCTV reported.

An artificial intelligence classroom system is exhibited at the 2025 CIFTIS in Beijing on September 10, 2025. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Since its launch in 2012, CIFTIS has grown into the world's largest comprehensive fair in trade in services, serving as a vital window for China's opening-up.

Over the years, CIFTIS has attracted more than 1.1 million exhibitors and visitors from 198 countries and regions, along with over 900 overseas business associations and institutions, with cooperation outcomes increasing year by year, according to Xinhua.

A visitor experiences VR glasses at the 2025 CIFTIS in Beijing on September 10, 2025. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Driven by innovation, China's service sector is accelerating its global expansion. In recent years, breakthroughs in frontier fields such as AI large models, humanoid robots, and quantum communication have significantly boosted the rapid development of modern services such as information technology and business services.

In the first half of 2025, China's exports of knowledge-intensive services reached 865.04 billion yuan ($121.47 billion), up 7.8 percent. Exports of telecommunications, computer, and information services were particularly strong, reaching 377.16 billion yuan, with growth of 14.6 percent, which is a clear sign of rising international competitiveness, the People's Daily reported.

Global Times