A high-level cultural industry fair was due to open today in Shenzhen to introduce Chinese ideas and innovations into the global market.

Wang Jingsheng, director of Shenzhen Publicity Department, told a press briefing yesterday the event would help promote the latest Chinese products across the world.

"Starting from this year, we will not only display and sell cultural products made or processed in China, but attach more importance on 'Chinese ideas' and 'Chinese innovations'," said Wang.

The Second China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industry Fair, sponsored by several nation-level authorities including the Ministry of Culture, is the country's only comprehensive professional fair in the field of culture.

Twenty-six overseas cities have organized companies to exhibit at the event and more than 3,400 foreign trade visitors have registered, accounting for nearly 16 percent of the total trade visitors expected.

"The four-day fair will be a platform to showcase China's most excellent cultural achievements. It will also be a global cultural products procurement fair and a venue for exchanging new cultural technologies," Wang said.

With a total of nine halls for industries including design, media, performance, publishing and arts, the fair will take up a total area of 105,000 square meters in the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Much emphasis has been attached to protecting intellectual property rights and ensuring cultural security.

An expert team will be based at the fair to punish any practices that violate social security and intellectual property rights.

The cultural sector is expected to become the fourth biggest industry in Shenzhen, behind high technology, finance and logistics, according to the city's 11th Five-Year (2006-10) Plan.

(China Daily May 18, 2006)