Business deals worth 7 billion yuan ($1.12 billion) were reached at the 2018 China (Ningbo) Cultural Industrial Fair (NBCIF) in Ningbo, Zhejiang province from April 13 to 16.

More than 30 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), along with over 30 major Chinese cities, displayed their most cutting-edge products in cultural and creative industries such as digital technology, creative design and cultural media.

The fair had a total exhibition area of 53,000 square meters, and set up eight halls with different themes.

In a hall featuring exhibits from BRI countries, 200 typical cultural products from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam were on display for visitors. European countries such as the UK, Italy, Russia, and Switzerland presented 25 well-known local brands at the fair.

Chinese cities pivotal to the BRI, such as Chongqing, Wuhan, Changsha, Nanjing, Dalian, Xiamen and Hong Kong, teamed up for the fair and presented their distinctive products with unique regional characteristics.

The Palace Museum, one of China's most cherished cultural heritage sites, showcased 1,040 cultural and creative products at the fair.

NBCIF is one of the three major cultural industry platforms developed by Zhejiang province. Since it started in 2016, the total value of cooperative projects reached at the event has exceeded 17.5 billion yuan and more than 3,000 cultural enterprises have been introduced to Ningbo via the platform.

Visitors admire cultural and creative products at a British pavilion at the 2018 NBCIF in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on April 13. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]