The China International Fair for Trade in Services is not just promoting global trade cooperation, but also providing businesses with the benefit of digital services, especially with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to businesses representatives.

Participants from 153 countries and regions are attending this year's CIFTIS and demonstrating their achievements in trade in services.

"It is the first time for our company to participate in CIFTIS. This is an important exhibition that connects businesses between China and overseas markets," said Akihiro Fukaishi, president of Epson China.

"We would like to introduce our eco-friendly technology to visitors and businesses at the event," Fukaishi said.

The Japanese electronics manufacturer is exhibiting its products such as the in-office dry papermaking system PaperLab, and a digital art space adopting its shadow casting technique.

"I think China is the most advanced country in innovation, and we hope to work with Chinese companies through technology to facilitate our customers and partners overseas," he said.

Another participant is the Palace Museum. The museum is debuting its digital achievements at the digital service exhibition area, which has been set up at CIFTIS for the first time.

At the booth, a panoramic view can be seen of the Forbidden City as well as the palace's famous paintings. "We have brought the digital resources that have been accumulated over the past 20 years and are demonstrating them with virtual reality technology," said Zhang Yuchen, an employee at the Palace Museum.

For example, the digital museum offers visitors an experience of its archaeological sites in a three-dimensional space via VR technology.

"Our digital Palace Museum has served more than 9 billion visitors at home and abroad since 2012," Zhang said.

According to Zhang, the museum has cooperated with tech company Tencent to develop its WeChat mini-program, which integrates digital resources and allows visitors to tour the Palace Museum online.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people cannot travel to visit Beijing and the museum, and so an online tour is a good option for them to experience traditional culture," Zhang said.

"We are constantly promoting the digital museum to overseas markets, in an effort to show our country to foreign friends," he added.

Beijing-based online service company Meituan is showcasing its driverless vehicles for delivering online orders and its sharing bikes.

Its driverless vehicles are now licensed and allowed to deliver online food orders in more than 20 communities in Beijing's Shunyi district, according to a staff member of the company.

"With Beijing's progress in facilitating trade in services, Meituan is a beneficiary," said Lai Youwei, vice-president of Meituan.

Meituan has more than 600 million consumers on its e-commerce platform for life services, Lai said.

Data from Beijing's bureau of statistics show that in the first half of this year, the added value of the service industry in the city increased 10.1 percent year-on-year to 1.6 trillion yuan ($248 billion).

"CIFTIS is a platform to show Beijing's trade in services to the world. We hope to utilize the event to bring more convenience to consumers in the city and across the country," Lai said.