2018年CRI Beijing summit discusses future trend in service trade（在线收听）

As part of the ongoing Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services, a forum has been held to explore ways for the future development of the service sector.

CRI's Gao Junya has more.

This year's Global Trade in Services Summit is tasked with trying to outline growing trends in the services trade sector, as well as explore ways to help further expand the sector.

Boasting the world's second largest trade in services, China has taken a series of steps over the years to promote the services trade in its 11 pilot free trade zones.

Authorities have also designated 15 regions for pilot service trade innovation programs.

Addressing Monday's event, Commerce Minister Zhong Shan says more will be done to increase the development of the sector.

"We will accelerate the opening up of the service industry, boost international cooperation among countries along the Belt and Road, as well as further liberalize and facilitate services trade."

The minister also announced plans to foster innovation in services trade and add more cities to the pilot service trade programs.

He also says there is now a priority on the integration of the manufacturing and service industries.

When it comes to the future of the service industry, Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, suggests it must be modern, open and green.

While emphasizing the role of technology in expanding the modern services industry, Jack Ma has also tried to ease concerns that modern technology may cut job opportunities for humans.

"The industrial age has turned humans into machines, while in digital age we will develop machines into humans. A large amount of manufacturing jobs will be completed by machines and humans will be engaged in work related to designing, creativity and experiencing, which is hard to be replaced by machines. Employment won't be vanished in the future world, but lots of jobs in manufacturing industry will be replaced by that in service sector."

Topics of Monday's discussion have also included economic globalization and the digitalization of the services sector.

For CRI, this is Gao Junya.