AESF marks historic debut at the CIIE
It was a historic week for both the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) and the China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2020 last week, as the sole esports governing body in Asia officially took part in the annual trade co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Shanghai Municipal Government.
A trade fair held in autumn annually since 2018, this year’s event took place at the National Exhibition and Convention Center In Shanghai China on the 5th of November 2020. The CIIE is the world's first import-themed national-level expo and this organisation is under the direct guidance of the President of China, Mr. Xi Jinping.
This was the first of the three confirmed AESF participation at the CIIE, following the MoU which was inked in August. The AESF’s participation will allow the federation to expand its brand, promote close relationships between the organization and the government, and to pave the way for long-term business in not only esports but in other popular traditional sports as well, especially from the shared experiences of AESF’s Executive Board and core team.
In his speech delivered at the start of the momentous occasion, AESF Director General, Mr Sebastian Lau said “I see this as an absolute win for both parties involved, and of course, those in attendance as not only it helps boost esports presence in China, expose esports to untapped segments and open up new opportunities for collaborations; it also allows us to redefine how esports is seen in many years to come.”
He added, “Through official collaborations and partnerships with our member associations, we have worked hard in creating an ecosystem which we hope, eventually evolve into a self-sustaining one. The work is far from done, but with the help of partners who share our philosophy and mindset - such as Howell Expo for China Joy and the CIIE - this dream is fast becoming a reality.
On behalf of the AESF, allow me to express how excited we are with this collaboration with the CIIE. We look forward to seeing you on the floor, and of course, a chance to work with and alongside everyone in attendance in the future.”
The original article can be found here.
