"Trade fairs will open a wider channel for the two countries to trade their products and services and enhance their economic ties," said Peter Neven, managing director of the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) in a recent interview with Shanghai Star.

Germany is the world's No 1 trade exhibition host, which holds about two thirds of the world's leading and prominent expositions every year.

In 1999 alone, the country attracted 162,000 exhibitors and more than 10 million visitors from over 190 countries and regions around the world to join in fairs there.

"Germany, as a leading player in the global exhibition business, can help its Chinese trade fair counterparts to grow through exchanges of expertise in marketing, services and general experience in hosting fairs," said Neven.

Neven said he was impressed by the rapid growth in the Chinese fairs and exhibition sector but pointed out that China must rid itself of the number of repetitive shows it currently encourages and set up an association to supervise the business.

"The sector is booming but, left to run pretty much with a free rein, has produced too many fairs on the same theme."

He said it is essential that some kind of supervisory body is set up to co-ordinate, serve and regulate the industry and to ensure fair play.

Turning to Shanghai, Neven said he hoped to enhance co-operation with Shanghai businesses in trade fairs as the city is evolving into one of the leading exhibition centres in China.

Alongside Beijing and Guangzhou, Shanghai has become a focus of the trade fair industry.

The latest fruit of German-Sino co-operation in the industry is the planned construction in Pudong of a grand show hall, Shanghai New International Expo Centre, the fifth such centre in Shanghai with an investment of $99 million.

The project, to be constructed this year, is funded by Shanghai Pudong Land Development (Holding) Corp which is to hold a 50 per cent stake, and three German firms, each retaining a third of the remaining shares.