Improved services on offer

THE second China International Import Expo kicks off next week.

With translating machines, bilingual information robots, more rest areas, better catering services and clearer signs to guide the visitors, the team preparing for the expo has made some impressive progress.

A total of 83 translating machines will be placed around the National Exhibition and Convention Center as well as the passages leading to the venue. Last year, there were only 32.

According to Nie Qingxin from the expo bureau, each machine is connected directly to a remote translating center and interpreters speak directly with visitors.

“We offer translation from Chinese to 12 languages,” said Nie. “Within 10 seconds, an interpreter speaking will answer.”

Nie said that last year there was no such translating service, and most translation was done by volunteers at the venue. This year, there will be 5,881 volunteers at the expo, 3,653 providing direction and guidance information, double the number last year.

According to the bureau, more than 1,000 translators have signed up, 20 percent more than last year. Another 260 translators will be at the expo to help visitors speaking minority languages such as Italian and Portuguese.

Robots in the shape of the panda mascot Jinbao have been placed around the venue, equipped with speech recognition systems that can identify Chinese and English.

After the first CIIE, the bureau surveyed exhibitors and purchasing agents from all over the world, and the results suggested the most urgently needed improvement were the translation, catering and transportation.

The convention center covers 1.5 million square meters, the largest of its kind around the world.

“The center is in the shape of a four-leaf clover,” said Nie. “It is hard for people to get around without proper signs and guidance.”

This year, there are 6,600 signs in the venue. Among them are 12 huge information boards showing not only directions, but the timetable of main events, with information such as walking distance and current location.

Another improvement is catering, said Zhang Min, in charge of the catering preparations.

“We can serve up to 250,000 meals from 8am to 8pm each day from 140 caterers,” said Zhang.