Photo taken on August 31, 2022, shows the China National Convention Center Ⅱ, a venue of 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Photo: Li Qiaoyi/GT

China's annual services trade fair that opened Wednesday in Beijing is zeroing in on green and innovative development amid China's unswerving pledges for peak carbon and carbon neutrality, with global firms displaying their latest green and innovative technologies and applications at a newly created environmental services section at the major fair.

The new thematic section that showcases wide-ranging new technologies and applications in the spheres of ecological and environmental protection and energy conservation is poised to paint China as an undaunted trendsetter in enabling green growth, despite a faltering mission globally toward a clearer future, a veteran observer said.

In a highlight of the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which runs from Wednesday through September 5, an environmental services section at the second-phase of the China National Convention Center was set up for the first time this year. 

The new thematic division covers an area of 16,700 square meters and focuses on low-carbon energy, the climate and carbon economy, carbon neutrality and green technology, among other topics, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Beijing International Services Trade Affairs Center.

More than 100 businesses and industry leading entities would gather at the environmental services section, Chinese news site cenews.com.cn reported on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, some 20 low-carbon and sustainable development-themed events will be held during this year's CIFTIS, including a summit on global ecological and sustainable development, a forum on China's carbon neutral economic development and a climate economy forum.

The event's in-person exhibition area is up 26,000 square meters from last year, now standing at 152,000 square meters.

The 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) kicks off in Beijing, on August 31, 2022. Photo: Li Qiaoyi/GT

The country has over the years made pronounced headway in transitioning toward a green and low-carbon economy, as evidenced by the capital city's conspicuous improvement in its air quality, Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Ma cited the country's global leadership in the arena of renewables and non-fossil resources - China's solar panel and wind installations and its hydropower installed capacity all top global rankings.

The country also holds the global lead in new-energy vehicle (NEV) ownership, Ma continued. 

Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association, revealed on Monday that China's share of global NEV sales rose to 68 percent in July. In the first seven months, the country accounted for 60.6 percent of worldwide passenger NEV sales, according to Cui.

The marked progress on greening the economy has cemented China's greater clout in the global pursuit of clearer growth, experts said.

China's leadership in solar panels, for instance, attests to the country's position as a manufacturing power as well as a technically advanced global champion, Ma said, adding that the NEV sector put the country in an advantageous place over others in the transition toward green growth.

Worth noting is that the country's ambitious carbon peak and neutrality goals, estimated to involve commitments of at least 130 trillion yuan ($18.85 trillion) by 2050, would offer huge opportunities for foreign firms with expertise in low-carbon technologies and services, Ma said. 

Among foreign giants attending this year's CIFTIS are US electric carmaker Tesla and chip giant Qualcomm.

On the part of Qualcomm, a third-time CIFTIS attendee, the services trade fair is supposed to be an important gathering for the company to showcase 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality and among other cutting-edge technologies, as well as applications and services empowered by these technologies such as metaverse, manufacturing and vehicles, Qualcomm said in a statement sent to the Global Times. 

A metaverse experience hall is making its debut at the Shougang Park as part of this year's CIFTIS. More than 60 businesses are scheduled to debut their new products and technologies in AI, fintech and other areas during the services fair.

Qualcomm is set to share its latest achievements and insights on areas including the building of a green and sustainable future during the six-day event. 

Chinese oil giant Sinopec is bringing its integrated energy station that features a combination of functionalities, including power generation, pumping gas and hydrogen, and charging electric vehicles (EVs), showcasing the future of fuel stations. Chinese NEV maker Nio would put on display its smart EV lineups, according to the report.

The green growth-focused CIFTIS, as Ma put it, is anticipated to become a viable conduit to foster global trade in environmental services and spur green R&D and exchanges at a time when many countries are seen retreating from their previous green promises.