Company representatives sign cooperation agreements at the International Forum on the Development of Cultural Trade held on May 28, the first day of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), at the Beijing International Convention Center in Beijing. [Photo/bjwzb.gov.cn]

The International Forum on the Development of Cultural Trade was held on May 28, the first day of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), at the Beijing International Convention Center in Beijing.

Sponsored by the State-owned Cultural Assets Supervision and Administration Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality (SOCASAO), the forum's slogan is "Openess, Cooperation, Exchange" and it aims to promote cultural trade exchanges with foreign countries and showcase the development achievements of Beijing's cultural industry.

Dong Dianyi, deputy director general of SOCASAO, a representative from a South Korean company, and a number of scholars gave speeches at the forum.

Some company representatives shared their experiences in overseas development, discussed how to develop Chinese culture abroad, sought multi-field cooperation in cultural trade, and explored ways to better promote the development of foreign cultural trade.

Eleven cooperation agreements worth a total of 1.65 billion yuan ($239 million) were signed by companies at the forum.