A BRAND-NEW digital identification (ID) system will be introduced at the forthcoming China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industry Fair when it opens to the public May 17 to 20.

"Professional visitors, around 25,000 from home and abroad, will be scanned at the entrances to the main venue, the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, and their photos will be stored in the data bank together with their personal information," Wang Weimin, a department chief of the ICIF, said yesterday.

Buyers and exhibitors whose information is not complete will be asked to register at the entrances.

"The move is to establish a complete database of both exhibitors and buyers, provide quick access and avoid the multiple use of one card by different people," Wang said.

"With the database, we can establish a long-term contact with buyers, especially those from overseas and develop more business contacts after the fair," he said.

The fair is expected to attract 1 million visitors from home and abroad and all booths have been fully booked by 1,600 exhibitors.

The main venue, covering 105,000 square meters, will be divided into nine exhibition areas, focusing on industrial products, digital movies and animation, sports industries, innovative design, printing and publication and fine arts products.

In addition to 18 subvenues across the city, organizers will also open an exhibition venue in Malaysia to promote China's cultural products exports.

In an effort to expand the influence of the fair, the organizers have also established a single Web site, www.cnci.gov.cn, by integrating two culture industry Web sites to promote the development of China' culture industry. The Web site has so far attracted 3.5 million visits.

Editor: Yan