The 18th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair kicked off on Wednesday in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.[Photo/Xinhua]

Since the first China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair was held in Guangdong province in 2004, it has become an important driver of cultural development in China, and a platform for promoting Chinese culture abroad.

The 18th fair, organized on a grander scale than ever, kicked off on Wednesday, and will run until Jan 2. It will be host to more than 2,500 government-organized groups, cultural institutions and companies, while an additional 800 institutions and companies will take part online, 300 of which are from outside the country.

As of Wednesday, 10,931 overseas purchasers from 108 countries and regions, including France, Germany and Pakistan, had registered to view the exhibitions and make purchases online.

The main venue is the 120,000-square-meter Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center and there are also 65 branch venues scattered across the city, where a range of activities will be held.

For example, the Artron (Shenzhen) Art Center venue will be holding a number of art exhibitions on woodblock painting, ancient books and the combination of art and technology. It will also organize cultural activities for local residents to learn how to make a book, including how to make paper, how to print, design and bind books, to teach them a little of the creativity involved in making books.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the fair showcases more than 100,000 cultural and creative exhibits from China and abroad, with some 4,000 cultural investment and financing projects displayed and exchanged every year.

Governments from across the country often send groups to exhibit their latest achievements and communicate their experience of cultural institutional reform.

This year, the Qinghai delegation includes 20 cultural and tourism companies that are bringing 1,000 cultural products to the fair.

Under the theme of creating an international ecological tourist destination, the Qinghai exhibition area will display traditional crafts, cultural and creative products, ecological tourist products and routes, and key cultural and tourist projects in the region, highlighting the uniqueness and diversity of Qinghai's cultural and tourist attractions.

Leading companies in the cultural sector, and good examples of cultural industrial parks and demonstration centers in China are also participating in the fair to showcase their achievements and search for new directions. Overseas companies and institutions are taking part to explore new markets and find new directions for cooperation and development.

The fair also aims to discuss problems, explore development possibilities and promote exchange and cooperation through forums, investment meetings and auctions.