Painters use a foreigner as a model in Dafen Oil Painting Village in Buji, Longgang District, Shenzhen, on Thursday.
A RECORD 15,000 overseas buyers are expected to attend China’s top cultural feast, which opens Friday at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center.
Buyers and visitors from 55 countries and regions would attend the four-day 5th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industry Fair (ICIF) at the convention center and 30 subvenues across the city, Huang Guoqiang, vice secretary general of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, said Thursday.
About 12,000 overseas buyers attended last year’s ICIF.
The 105,000-square-meter main venue will feature Chinese cultural products, including animation, creative designs and the latest publications.
Cultural heads of countries, including Slovakian Minister of Culture Marek Madaric and Director General for Education, and Culture of the EU, Odile Quintin, will also attend the fair.
Taiwan will send its first delegation to the ICIF, organized by the Taipei World Trade Center. The delegation will feature the latest developments in animation, software design, handicrafts and publications. John Chiang, grandson of Chiang Kai-shek, will deliver a keynote address during the fair.
Some 1,708 booths from all around the world will showcase a wide range of products.
This is 21 more than last year, despite the economic downturn.
More than 85 percent of the exhibitors are engaged in journalism, publications, copyright, broadcasting, TV, film and arts, 18 percent more than last year.
“This will help increase the competitiveness of the Chinese cultural industry in the global market,” said Huang.
