Press Release for Media Briefing of the Shanghai Municipal Government on February 25, 2026

2026.02.25

On February 25, the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held a press briefing. Pan Yan, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, introduced the China Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE), which will for the first time set up an exhibition area in the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone. Zhao Yugang, deputy director of the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone Administration, and Xu Dongsheng, vice chairman of the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.The AWE is one of China’s largest exhibitions for home appliances and consumer electronics. This year’s event, themed “Smart AI, Smarter Future,” will be held in Shanghai from March 12 to 15. It will span 170,000 square meters and bring together around 1,200 exhibitors from across the industry. For the first time, AWE will set up a dedicated exhibition area in the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone, where companies will showcase their latest technological achievements and flagship consumer electronics products. Organizers aim to build the expo into an “ideal meeting place” for global new product launches, technology exchanges and business negotiations, as well as a world-class stage for tracking industry innovation trends and pooling top-tier resources.By choosing the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone, AWE is looking to leverage the area’s policy advantages and hub potential. Working with multiple stakeholders, the expo seeks to create an industry event that combines technological sophistication, openness and public welfare, while contributing to the development of new quality productive forces and facilitating smoother domestic and international dual circulations.The Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone is a globally pioneering and domestically unique “zero time-difference” business zone. Its initial pilot area is already operating under closed management. Building on the regulatory frameworks of comprehensive bonded zones, customs-supervised areas and port-specific zones, the cooperation zone integrates policies that facilitate cross-border personnel exchanges and provide streamlined business services within designated enclosed areas. It is designed to serve as a benchmark for the highest level of international openness and an optimized business environment. For personnel mobility, the zone offers “two-way facilitation.” Invited overseas visitors may enter without a Chinese visa and stay for up to 30 days, with extensions available. Domestic travelers can enter and exit the zone with valid travel documents. Multilingual support, one-stop departure services and international payment options are also available. In terms of cargo flows, the zone promotes “efficient and direct” operations. Bonded goods may circulate within the zone in accordance with regulations. Eligible infrastructure materials and equipment can benefit from tax exemption and rebate policies. A checkpoint registration system for supporting materials further streamlines customs clearance, helping enterprises reduce operating costs.To comprehensively highlight emerging trends and opportunities in the consumer electronics sector, this year’s AWE exhibition features three key characteristics.First, the dual-area model sets a new benchmark for cross-border exhibitions. Under the “One Expo, Two Areas” initiative, AWE will operate two venues: the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone Exhibition Area and the Shanghai New International Expo Center, creating a coordinated framework that combines high-tech innovation with real-life applications. The Shanghai New International Expo Center, covering 140,000 square meters, will focus on smart living scenarios and mass-market applications. The Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone, with 30,000 square meters of exhibition space, will spotlight cutting-edge technological breakthroughs. With a 15-minute direct link to Pudong International Airport, the cooperation zone enables overseas exhibits to enter the zone conveniently and return promptly after the show. International visitors can travel directly from the airport to the exhibition site upon arrival, enhancing efficiency for both exhibitors and buyers.Second, trendy, eye-catching innovations are redefining the possibilities of future living. The event brings together cutting-edge technologies that are both practical and engaging, including humanoid robots capable of performing kung fu and handling household chores, companion devices that recognize emotions and interact through natural conversation, and AI-powered smart glasses that seamlessly connect the virtual and physical worlds. At AWE, visitors can explore both frontier technologies and accessible, consumer-ready products. The exhibition highlights the evolution of innovation across the value chain, from smart terminals to underlying systems, and from standalone applications to integrated ecosystems, offering a forward-looking glimpse into how technology will shape everyday life.Third, full-chain integration builds a new platform for open collaboration. The exhibition brings together leading home appliance and consumer electronics companies such as Haier, Huawei, AgiBot and Xreal, spanning the entire industry chain, from smart terminal chips and sensors to AI foundation models. It aims to build a global cooperation platform that integrates technology exchange and product showcasing, supported by functions including procurement matchmaking and industry-chain networking. Through these initiatives, the event seeks to foster cross-sector collaboration and accelerate industrial upgrading.