China’s Int’l Trade Fair soon for digital future & development

 Diplomatic Correspondent: China`s COVID-19 vaccines can provide protection against different novel coronavirus mutations, Shao Yiming, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said.

It is normal to have breakthrough infections - people who test positive after being fully immunized - because no vaccine is 100 percent capable of preventing people from catching the virus, he said.

In the trial of more than 10 million people, China`s CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine effectively prevented COVID-19 infections in Chile, where most of the infections were from the Gamma strain, he said at a news conference.

Among those who were fully immunized, the vaccine`s effectiveness was 65 percent for the general prevention of COVID-19 or minor illness, 87.5 percent for the prevention of severe illness, 90.3 percent for the prevention of ICU hospitalization, and 86.3 percent for the prevention of COVID-19-related death, he said.

Some countries with a high vaccine inoculation rate still have experienced a relapse of the COVID-19 epidemic after the control measures were relaxed, which has shown that strict containment measures should still be implemented after vaccination, he added.

Another report says: Several buildings in Beijing will display light shows to welcome the coming 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services, which is scheduled for September in the capital.

This year`s CIFTIS will be held from Sept 2 to 7 with the theme "Toward a digital future and services-driven development". It will cover an area of 130,000 square meters and have more than 100 forums, meetings and promotional events.

As of July 28, 716 companies had confirmed they would attend the fair, either online or offline, including 45 companies on the Fortune Global 500 list and 285 leading industrial companies. Overseas companies make up 23 percent of the companies that have committed to attend.

In addition to companies, 165 organizations from 108 overseas countries and regions have confirmed they will participate in the exhibition.

According to the organizers, the fair this year will be held at two venues in Beijing, which is a first for the annual event. Shougang Industrial Park will be one of the venues, as will the China National Convention Center, where the event is normally held.

The fair will accelerate trade and promote economic and social development, Sun Yao, deputy head of Beijing`s commerce bureau, said on Sunday.