"Bringing our SMEs to CISMEF is considered an important mission for us as CISMEF provides a perfect platform to boost the cooperation and development of SMEs, which will result in the stronger role of SMEs in the closer economic cooperation and exchanges between our business sectors," she noted.

Some 20 Germany-funded companies are attending the fair, mainly focusing on smart manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, automation and industrial design.

Summit enlightens thinking

The International Cooperation Summit for SMEs, initiated by China's State Council to promote their development, will be staged for the first time, simultaneously with the fair.

Iran's booth at the fair. CHINA DAILY

The fair, coupling with the summit, will have its influence expanded, which is expected to provide new opportunities and growth space to SMEs at home and abroad for higher-level cooperation and win-win situations, said Liang Zhifeng, director of the SME department under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The ministry is one of the organizers of the fair.

"The fair plus summit mode can allow more thorough exchanges of wisdom, market information, technological know-how, capital flow and management experience. Thus it can better satisfy the rising demands of SMEs in coping with more complicated market situation, financial support and development environment," said Liang.

The summit will arrange a series of seminars, including a ministerial-level roundtable centering on SME policies, to share experiences on how to effectively solve the difficulties that SMEs encounter, learn the latest development trends and advanced technologies, said the organizing committee.

Ceramics are displayed at the fair. CHINA DAILY

Jurin Laksanawisit, deputy prime minister and minister of commerce of Thailand, and Li Yong, director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization will deliver online remarks at the summit, said vice governor Wang. Senior officials of several international organizations, ambassadors of 10 countries in China, and representatives from the embassies and consulates in China will attend the summit, Wang added.

Liang said a huge procurement plan for SMEs around the world, valued at no less than 100 billion yuan ($15.5 billion), will be announced at the summit. The move will demonstrate the Chinese government's support for the development of SMEs, he noted.

"We will keep promoting external exchanges and cooperation of SMEs… promoting the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment," he said.