Roundup: CeBIT IT fair ends with strong showing by Chinese firms

CeBIT 2015, the world's top event for information and communication technology, ended here on Friday. China's strong presence as a partner country of the event received favorable feedback from industry insiders.

More than 3,300 companies from 70 countries and regions participated at CeBIT 2015, held from Monday to Friday, according to organizer Deutsche Messe AG.

This year's fair focused on "d!conomy" -- or the digital economy -- and showcased the rapid digitalization of all segments of the economy and society. Among the keynote themes addressed were digital transformation, the Internet of Things, IT security as well as unified communications.

A big highlight of CeBIT 2015 was China's participation as the partner country. Oliver Frese, member of the managing board of Deutsche Messe AG, said at Friday's closing press conference that China's participation as CeBIT's partner country had excited visitors.

"This year's CeBIT has clearly illustrated an eastward shift of the IT world atlas, underscoring China's growing ascendancy in key areas of digitization," he remarked.

Frese said he was personally impressed not only by Chinese products and technologies showcased at the fair, but also the ideas and visions of Chinese enterprises and industry leaders, when it comes to the future development of information and communications technology(ICT).

"We have seen a picture of a new China compared to previous years, with a large number of exhibitors from the country and an enormously wide range of exhibitions and solutions presented at the fair," said Dieter Kempf, president of German IT industry association BITKOM.

China as CeBIT's partner country, Kempf noted, has showed its potential in the ICT industry, adding it was also interesting to learn about how they reacted and adjusted to the new trends and developments in the industry.

Hundreds of Chinese exhibitors, including a number of big names like Huawei, ZTE, Alibaba, Xiaomi, took part in this year's event, during which they showed the latest products and solutions on various areas of digital economy. A number of cooperation agreements were signed between Chinese and foreign companies.

"With China's participation as the partner country, Cebit 2015 has attracted great attention in China, deepening Chinese people's understanding of the IT fair and the ICT industry," noted Gong Xiaofeng, executive vice chairman of trade association CCPITECC, at the closing press conference.

Gong said that Chinese exhibitors have gained great attention at CeBIT, and the event has also provided them a platform to build partnerships with enterprises from other countries.

"Exhibitors from China and other countries have used this opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding and trust. I believe they will have a brighter prospect for cooperation in the future," he added. Endit