Xi'an is the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and an important node city of the the Belt and Road. According to a reporter from Jiandao Network, a press conference on the "Xi'an Convention and Exhibition Industry Promotion Regulations" was held on the afternoon of February 23, 2024. The press conference introduced the newly revised Xi'an Convention and Exhibition Industry Promotion Regulations, as well as their background and process of revision.

It is understood that with the continuous development of the economy, society, and exhibition industry, some provisions of the original Regulations can no longer meet the needs of Xi'an's economic and social development. Therefore, based on the actual situation in Xi'an, the Standing Committee of the Xi'an Municipal People's Congress has made modifications to the Regulations with the goal of optimizing the business environment and promoting high-quality development of the exhibition industry, adhering to a problem oriented approach and striving for practical application of regulations. The new regulations, approved by the 6th meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, will come into effect on March 1st.

At the press conference, Zhang Bingchun, Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Xi'an Municipal People's Congress, introduced that the revision of the Regulations adheres to the principle of people's democracy throughout the entire process. A total of 322 opinions and suggestions from various sectors of society were collected, and 63 were ultimately adopted. The revised regulations consist of six chapters and forty-seven articles, and the new regulations have undergone major changes in the following four aspects.

Clarify the construction goal of the Belt and Road International Convention and Exhibition City

In the general provisions of the Regulations, the objectives and positioning of building a famous international convention and exhibition city along the the Belt and Road are put forward, and it is stipulated that the Xi'an Municipal People's Government should clarify the phased objectives of the construction of a famous international convention and exhibition city when formulating the development plan of the convention and exhibition industry. In other chapters, clear provisions are made for introducing international exhibition brands, promoting international exchanges and cooperation, and leveraging the role of exhibition platforms with international influence such as the Silk Road Expo and the Eurasian Economic Forum to provide specific support for achieving goals.

At the same time, the "Regulations" have more clearly defined the connotation of the exhibition industry and exhibition activities. Redefining the exhibition industry as a modern service industry that promotes the development of industries, trade, technology, tourism, elderly care, healthcare, and other fields through hosting exhibition events. Emphasized the special attributes of the exhibition industry in promoting the development of other industries and promoting industrial linkage. The concept of exhibition activities has been added, proposing that exhibition activities are activities organized by the host unit in a specific space and within a certain period of time, displaying goods, technology, services, etc. according to specific themes, providing participants with business negotiations, technology promotion, exchange and cooperation, on-site experience, etc. No longer limited exhibition activities to conferences, exhibitions, and local characteristic festival activities, space has been reserved for the future development of the industry.

Strengthen promotion measures and promote industry development

The Regulations make provisions in promoting industrial integration, cultivating large exhibition enterprises, creating brand exhibitions, innovative development, and green development, committed to improving the marketization, specialization, intelligence, and green level of the exhibition industry, and further promoting high-quality development.

Clarify parallel approval and optimize the business environment

In order to facilitate the handling of business by enterprises, Article 9 of the Regulations stipulates that the government should set up dedicated exhibition service windows online and offline respectively, implement comprehensive acceptance, and specify in detail that departments responsible for approval such as public security, fire protection, and urban management should actively strengthen business collaboration, implement parallel approval, and improve business processing efficiency. In addition, Article 11 stipulates that relevant government departments should provide on-site services such as consulting, and other provisions are made on the construction of smart venues and digital public service platforms for the exhibition industry, reflecting legislative practice in optimizing the business environment.

Standardize industry management and maintain fair competition

The Regulations stipulate that all parties involved, including the government, organizers, and exhibitors, shall fulfill their responsibilities and obligations in exhibition activities, guide and supervise market entities to operate in accordance with the law and with good faith, compete fairly in accordance with the law, and protect intangible assets. The government has made regulations to strengthen industry credit supervision and other aspects.

The Regulations actively respond to the demands of market entities and public concerns, and also modify and improve the exhibition statistics system, exhibition infrastructure construction, exhibition talent cultivation and introduction, personal information protection, and adjust legal responsibilities. After revision, the Regulations have further increased support for the exhibition industry, optimized service guarantee measures, and clarified government responsibilities.Editor/Zhao E