A briefing on the "Hall for ASEM SMEs Cooperation and Exchange" during "China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair" was held by the secretariat of organizing committee of the "5th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair" in Beijing News Plaza Hotel on January 30, 2008. Representatives from embassies of ASEM members, officials from the SME Department of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Department of Foreign Affairs of NDRC, China Centre for Business Cooperation and Coordination (CCBCC), Economic & Trade Commission of Guangdong Province, SMEs Bureau of Guangdong Province, and relative persons from China SMEs Information Portal attended the briefing. Ms. Liang Yan, Deputy Director General of Department of SMEs, NDRC, chaired the briefing.

In last October, Beijing Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation among ASEM Members on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was endorsed by the First ASEM SMEs Ministerial Meeting. Ministers appreciated China's decision to provide, during the annual "China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair" in each September, a free "Hall for ASEM SMEs Cooperation and Exchange" for members to hold exhibitions and conduct exchanges. At the Brief, the preparatory progress of the "Hall for ASEM SMEs Cooperation and Exchange" along with detailed information concerning fair participation was presented.

At the meeting, Chen Xiangxin, Deputy Director General of SMEs Bureau of Guangdong Province, briefed the participants on the situation of "China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair" and preparation progress of the "Hall for ASEM SMEs Cooperation and Exchange". According to the initiatives of Beijing Declaration, a website (www.asemsme.net), has been set up to facilitate members' participation in the Fair as well as daily communication.