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Zoland Animation Concludes First Global Digital Trade Expo with Eye‑Catching Outcomes
December 16, 2022
On December 14, the Hangzhou Municipal Government Information Office, together with the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce, the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, and the Hangzhou Free Trade Zone Administration Committee, held a press conference on the outcomes of the inaugural Global Digital Trade Expo. The first Global Digital Trade Expo came to a successful close, and Zoland Animation wrapped up its participation with highly encouraging results.
At the exhibition, digital cultural innovations showcased by Zoland Animation — including glasses‑free 3D visual flexible screens and holographic light‑field display booths — drew numerous visitors to stop and engage in interactive experiences. This integration of "content + digital technology" became a signature highlight of Zoland Animation's presence at the expo. Visitors were able to interact anytime and anywhere with real‑life friends or virtual "digital humans," breaking through the visual boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds, opening up new possibilities for the future of the metaverse experience. On‑site displays such as the "Yuanhu" digital collectibles and a themed exhibition zone featuring merchandise of the Asian Games mascots also showcased the unique charm of different "derivatives" in both the digital and real‑world realms, highlighting the diversity of the metaverse.
The innovation of digital technology has also driven new models for "cultural exports." On-site, the Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone showcased over a year's worth of development achievements, which also drew considerable attention. At the Digital Cultural Trade Summit Forum of the inaugural Global Digital Trade Expo, Wu Jia, Chairwoman of Zoland Animation and a member of the Leading Group of the Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone, shared her insights from over a decade in the animation industry, pointing out three major areas of impact that digital technology advancements have brought to digital cultural trade. She noted that, first, digital technology has enriched the means of expression and the scope of digital content, facilitating the global promotion of China's voice while also further expanding and deepening international and domestic markets. Second, it has innovated the ways in which digital content is disseminated, improving communication efficiency and significantly reducing time costs. Third, digital technology has also transformed trade models, expanded trade scenarios, and promoted greater convenience for cultural exports.
Wu Jia also introduced a series of innovative initiatives undertaken by the Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone in response to changes in the international landscape and trade trends, aimed at promoting Chinese culture to the world. As the only national‑level functional zone dedicated to digital cultural trade in China, the Cooperation Zone has, since receiving its "National Cultural Export Base" designation in August 2021, closely pursued the "510 Integrated Development Project" and actively advanced platform construction. The "Zhijiang No.1" AI Animation Performance Platform and the "Banding" Digital Culture Copyright Protection Platform have both been put into commercial use and were jointly selected for the Second Batch of Innovative Practice Cases for National Cultural Export Bases. The overseas distribution platform Zoland TV has also undergone its fourth version upgrade and has been relaunched. Over the past year, the Cooperation Zone has added approximately 500 hours of new digital content to its library, which now exceeds 600,000 minutes in total, with both the digital culture industry and trade experiencing robust growth.
During the inaugural Digital Trade Expo, Zoland Animation also reaped substantial rewards. At the Digital Cultural Trade Summit Forum, Wu Jia, on behalf of the Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone, signed a framework agreement with the Iranian House of Animation to jointly promote international cooperation in animation and film production. The signing ceremony was witnessed by officials including Sheng Qiuping, Vice Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Director of the China International Import Expo Bureau, and Secretary‑General of the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, along with other distinguished guests present.
At the side event – the Hangzhou Digital Service Trade Development Forum – Zoland Animation also signed a "Strategic Cooperation Agreement on the Digital Human Industry" with YouChain Era. The two parties will leverage their respective professional expertise and experience to carry out comprehensive and in-depth cooperation across brands, resources, channels, and other areas.
In addition, the "Banding" Digital Culture Copyright Protection Platform — developed by Hangzhou YouChain Era Technology Co., Ltd. — was shortlisted for the Pioneer Award (DT Award) at the inaugural Global Digital Trade Expo. It was honored on stage alongside 42 other leading players in the digital trade industry, including Tesla, AstraZeneca, Amazon, JD (Jingdong), Tencent, NetEase, and Hikvision. The DT Award, named after the abbreviation for Digital Trade, is designed to set the direction for the digital trade industry and comprehensively showcase the most cutting-edge new technologies, services, and products in the sector. It is presented annually during the Global Digital Trade Expo, with the aim of promoting exhibitions through awards, boosting trade through exhibitions, fostering innovation through trade, and empowering the expo itself.
It is reported that the Global Digital Trade Expo is currently the only national‑level, global‑scale professional expo in China dedicated to digital trade, approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. It serves as a national platform for international digital trade exchange and a window for showcasing the achievements of the digital economy. Under the theme "Digital Trade, Connecting Trade Globally," this year's expo focused on the entire digital trade industry chain. It brought together dignitaries, scholars, and business representatives from over 50 countries. A total of 32 representatives from embassies in China and consulates‑general in Shanghai, along with seven international organizations, attended the event either on‑site or online. The expo attracted more than 800 leading domestic and international companies, with 286 enterprises unveiling 315 products through "world debuts," "first exhibitions," or "first launches." The estimated intended trade turnover reached 37.4 billion yuan. A large number of new products, technologies, and services were showcased, including post‑quantum cryptography platforms, domestic cloud computing operating systems, spatiotemporal remote sensing cloud service platforms, metaverse open platforms, and future community health scenario solutions. In addition, 89 projects from Fortune 500 companies, industry leaders, and unicorn enterprises were signed both on‑site and off‑site during the expo, with a total investment value of approximately 110 billion yuan.