HANNOVER, Germany -- Hannover Messe 2024, Germany's leading industrial trade fair, kicked off on Monday with a clear emphasis on carbon-neutral production and hydrogen fuel cells.

The exhibition, focused on "energizing a sustainable industry," runs until Friday and attracted almost 4,000 exhibitors from around 60 countries and regions. Among them, Chinese exhibitors accounted for 30 percent of participants, second only to the host Germany, according to the organizer.

This year's trade fair also features key topics including digitalization, energy transformation, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. More than 500 exhibitors from the hydrogen and fuel cell industry will also present their energy solution innovations.

At the opening ceremony on Sunday evening, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the skyrocketing energy prices in the past few years have taken a massive toll on Germany's economy, although wholesale prices for gas and electricity have recently returned to the pre-energy crisis levels.

He noted that the contribution of German industry to economic growth and employment remains unbroken even during the energy transformation.

"The key to transformation is to produce more electricity in a climate-friendly manner and at an affordable price," said Scholz, adding that the government would strive to produce 80 percent of electricity from renewable solar and wind energy.

Established in 1947, the Hannover Messe is known as one of the leading industrial trade fairs worldwide.