The Zhejiang-themed exhibition hall at the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFITS). [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The six-day 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFITS) concluded in Beijing on Sept 9. East China's Zhejiang province mainly showcased its achievements in digital services at the fair.

The Zhejiang-themed exhibition hall, covering an area of 72 square meters, was divided into eight sections, all related to digital services, including digital security and protection, digital finance, and digital information.

At the entrance to the Zhejiang hall was a multifunctional oven made by Zhejiang Entive Smart Kitchenware Co. According to Qiu Yufang, director of the company's marketing operation center, the product has a built-in digital service system which enables users to cook dishes as ornate as those in Michelin-starred restaurants.

One of the most popular booths in the Zhejiang hall was that of Yiwu Yimi Supply Chain Management Service Co, a cross-border e-commerce service provider that runs a number of overseas warehouses in countries such as Spain and Mexico. Zhu Rongfang, who managed the company's booth, said: "Traditional international trade methods have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, so many companies are opting to use cross-border e-commerce instead." According to Zhu, her company's business has been growing rapidly as a result, and many clients have asked for her company's help in solving difficulties related to the storage and delivery of goods.

Digital technologies are transforming Zhejiang's trade in services. According to an official from the trade in services office of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce, digital services have boosted the added value of conventional goods and created brand new business opportunities.

Data show that Zhejiang's total foreign trade in services rose by 4.1 percent year-on-year to 223.2 billion yuan ($32.6 billion) in the first seven months of this year, of which trade in digital services was as much as 123.41 billion yuan, surging 34.73 percent from the previous year.