The level of cooperation between the local and international exhibition industries must be further developed and maintained, according to speakers at the third China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO) which opened in the Shanghai International Conference Center yesterday.

Xu Kuangdi, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), addressed the opening ceremony and extended a warm welcome to representatives of the exhibition industry from all over the world.

"Chinese exhibition practitioners should learn more experience from their foreign counterparts and create good external environment for the industry's development," Xu said.

Xu also said that they should establish rules and regulations to enhance their credibility and IPR protection.

Wan Jifei, chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), in his speech said, China's exhibition industry should be more regulated, market-oriented, industrialised and internationalised.

"We should plan exhibition halls as a whole, making the exhibits properly distributed," Wan said. "Also, we should enhance the standard and quality of services."

Shanghai Vice Mayor Zhou Yupeng said that one of the goals Shanghai had in mind by taking the opportunity to host World Expo 2010 was to help the development of the local exhibition industry.

The forum, which has the theme: "Open, Cooperation, Win-Win", is divided into two sections.

The first section includes three general assemblies, four sub-conferences and some related activities. Experts, economists, government officials discuss various topics.

The second section includes lectures and some exhibition promotion projects.

Nearly 600 representatives from 17 countries and regions are taking part in the forum.