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Services Highlighted at Expat Show Beijing

Nearly 10,000 visitors from around the world explored the information and fun-filled Expat Show Beijing from April 4 to 6, 2008, at the China World Trade Centre in Beijing.

The show, organized by the World Events Agency, was the first of its kind in Beijing dedicated to providing various kinds of services to expatriates living in or planning to move to Beijing. This show is expected to become an annual event in Beijing and Shanghai in April and September. It was first held in Shanghai in 2007.

Statistics suggest that expatriates residing in Beijing are on the increase because of China’s expanding markets and rapid development, making the capital a first choice for many expatriates. Hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics has only encouraged more expatriates to invest, live, study and work in China.

More than 120 international exhibitors involved in various life facilities and services, such as cultural agencies and publications, international schools, hospitals and clinics, arts and crafts, daily goods, properties, travelling and sports and entertainment facilities participated in the show. Many expatriate couples were accompanied by their children. They walked around the show to look for useful information and convenient living amenities available in their neighbourhoods and communities.

An Iranian student living in China said, “I love this exhibition very much; it’s exciting and interesting. I had a lot of fun here, but I also got some very useful information that will make my life in China more fulfilling.”

A highlight of the show was an Olympic photo exhibition, organized by the Beijing Foreign Cultural Exchanges Center and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, featuring historical and poignant photographs taken of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay and five short films of the VISION BEIJING film project. Under VISION BEIJING five globally known movie directors portrayed life in Beijing as it prepares for the 2008 Olympic Games, giving show visitors a good opportunity to learn more about the Games and New Beijing. Some visitors excitingly found that some events showed in the pictures just happened few days ago.

A community-based blood donation drive was held during the show in support of the upcoming Olympics. It was hosted by the Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics and the Chaoyang Blood Administration Centre. Foreign visitors were encouraged to donate blood to ease the upcoming need for Rh-negative blood, as more than 500,000 foreign visitors are expected this summer. Beijing is under pressure to ensure that blood reserves are prepared to meet increased blood demand during various emergencies. The blood collected was delivered to the Beijing Red Cross.

“It’s my first time to donate blood in China. I think it’s a good idea for the Beijing Olympic Games,” said Jacob Redding, an American whol had lived in Beijing for half a year.

北京旅居人士服务展览会

外籍人士工作生活信息新平台

文/赵迪迪

即将到来的2008年奥运会，使北京的国际形象和声誉日益提高，越来越多的外国友人被中国古老悠久的文明吸引，纷纷来到北京投资、工作、学习和生活。北京也正敞开大门，喜迎全球的来客。首届北京旅居人士服务展览会应运而生。

由World Events Agency主办的旅居人士服务展览会致力于为在北京工作生活或来京旅游的外国人提供优质与便捷的服务。超过120个国际参展者展示了与工作、生活相关的设施及服务，如文化传播机构和出版社，国际学校，医院，旅游、运动场所和娱乐设施等，都在本次展会上展出。    

北京奥组委新闻宣传部联合北京对外文化交流中心举办的奥运主题展览成为本届展会最具时代特色的亮点。“奥运火炬传递”图片展以“魅力北京、奥运之城、和谐之旅”为主题，60张内容丰富的图片及详实的说明，为中外友人提供了认识北京、了解北京奥运的平台，很多观众惊奇地发现，图片中呈现的一些事件就发生在几天前；由参加“VISION BEIJING国际导演拍北京”活动的五位国际著名导演拍摄的北京城市宣传短片体现出北京的风土人情，参观者被北京人淳朴好客的热情感染着，大家边看边相互交流，气氛友善和谐。

北京和睦家医院和朝阳区献血办公室举办的北京社区献血活动也吸引了很多到场嘉宾。在即将到来的奥运会期间，预计将有超过50万外国游客来京，为确保奥运首都医疗急救用血的万无一失——特别是RhD阴性血液应急之需——北京急需预先采集和储备更多的RhD阴性血。拥有这种血型的中国人非常稀少，而在西方国家，这种血型要常见的多，约占人口比例的15%。此次献血活动收集的血液将被送往北京红十字血液中心。“这是我第一次在中国献血。我认为，为北京奥运会献血是件很有意义的事情。”在北京居住了半年的美国人Jacob Redding说。

展览获得空前成功，主办方计划每年4月和9月分别在北京和上海举办本展览。