CIFTIS Photo:CFP

Chinese vaccine producers will unveil their most advanced products, including updated vaccines that can resist coronavirus mutations, and promising COVID-19 drugs at the 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which opens on Thursday in Beijing. 

CIFTIS is a major platform for trade in services in China. This year's fair will run from Thursday to September 7 and feature an exhibition area of about 130,000 square meters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech at the CIFTIS via video on Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced Wednesday. 

The Global Times learned from Chinese vaccine producer China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a subsidiary of Sinopharm, that they will present four COVID-19 vaccines at the fair, including two inactivated vaccines, one recombinant protein vaccine and one mRNA vaccine. 

The two inactivated vaccines are the updated version of those being used around the world and proven effective against mutations, the CNBG said Wednesday. 

The recombinant protein vaccine is a world-leading mutation-specialized broad-spectrum vaccine, which had proven effective in preventing the Delta variant, the group said, noting that they are also preparing a platform to mass-produce their self-developed mRNA vaccine. 

Two drugs separately based on a specific immune globulin and a monoclonal antibody, as well as a nucleic acid test kit which can give results in 30 minutes, will also be revealed at the fair, according to the CNBG. 

This year's CIFTIS will have a special section for digital services for the first time. Leading international and domestic digital services enterprises will make use of the section to showcase their latest technologies, achievements and applications, said the organizing committee.

At least 39 industry leaders and well-known enterprises had signed up for the special section, according to Xinhua. The Global Times learned from another Chinese COVID-19 vaccine producer CanSinoBIO on Wednesday that that they would attend this section.

Things to know about CIFTIS 2021. Graphic: Deng Zijun/GT

The fair will also feature more than 10 forums, focusing on hot topics such as the digital economy, carbon-emissions peaking and carbon neutrality, epidemic prevention, intellectual property rights protection, the industrial internet, and the construction of free trade zones. 

The Global Trade in Services Summit will be held on Thursday, according to the MOC.   

Held after China has successfully put down the latest resurgence of COVID-19, this year's CIFTIS will adopt strict anti-epidemic measures to ensure the health of attendees and visitors. 

In principle, those who have not accepted COVID-19 vaccines are not allowed to attend the fair, Liu Xiaofeng, an official from the Beijing disease prevention and control center, said Sunday.

When the Global Times registered for a forum to be held on Saturday, a negative result of nucleic acid test within 48 hours is also required.