I. Approved by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) was hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and other departments in China.

CISMEF aims to build a platform of "display, trade, exchange and cooperation" for SMEs home and abroad so as to increase understanding, strengthen cooperation, expand exchanges and strike common development for China's SMEs and their foreign counterparts, which enhance the healthy development of SMEs in China.With government support and market operation, CISMEF is a non-profit exhibition.

CISMEF was launched in 2004, initiated by Zhang Dejiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee & NPC Standing Committee Chairman and then Guangdong Provincial CPC Committee Secretary.

It is held every autumn in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, and now CISMEF has been successfully held for 13 sessions. With the highest level, largest scale and most wide-ranging influence in the Asia-Pacific region, CISMEF has enjoyed the support of many countries.

After 13 years’ development, CISMEF has become an effective platform to promote exchanges and cooperation between global SMEs, with its highlights and remarkable results.

II. How co-host mechanism came into being

On January 8, 2005, the State Council of China approved to organize China-France SME Expo during the 2nd CISMEF. Before the 2nd CISMEF was opened, then Premier Wen Jiabao of China gave instructions, requiring drawing on past experience and working hard to make CISMEF into China (Guangzhou) International SME Expo, so as to better promote development and cooperation between SMEs in China and other counterparts in the world.

In this way, CISMEF has introduced the co-host mechanism, thus creating unique model of working with foreign parties to host the event.

III. Organizing Situation of Co-host countries/organizations

Since 2005, CISMEF has invited France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Australia, Thailand, Ecuador, Vietnam, Indonesia, UNOSSC, Mexico, Malaysia, Cote d'Ivoire and India as the co-hosts so as to bring business opportunities for SMEs in these countries and organizations to learn from each other and conduct cooperation and exchanges.

On September 11, 2005, Mr. Dutreil, then French Minister of SMEs, headed a French delegation to CISMEF, which was attended by 160 French SMEs and more than 3,500 SMEs of China.

On September 15, 2006, Mr. Romano Prodi, then Prime Minister of Italy as the co-host of 3rd CISMEF, took 798 SMEs to the event and addressed the China-Italy SME Summit together with then Vice Premier ZENG Peiyan of China. On September 15, 2007, the 4th CISMEF & China-Japan SMEs Expo were opened. 482 enterprises formed the largest outbound exhibitor delegation ever seen in Japan, which showcased their latest sophisticated technologies in energy efficiency, recycling and water purification. On September 22, 2008, the 5th CISMEF & China-Korea SMEs Expo were opened. As the co-host, Korea organized 263 enterprises and industrial organs from Korea to exhibit in the event in 550 stands totaling 10,000 square meters.

On September 22, 2009, then Spain’s Industry, Tourism and Trade Minister Miguel Sebastian headed more than 200 enterprises from the country to attend CISMEF and signedCooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China and Industry, Tourism and Trade Ministry of the Kingdom of Spain in Fields of Industry, Telecommunications and Information Technology and MOU of SME Cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China and Industry, Tourism and Trade Ministry of the Kingdom of Spain in Fields of Industry, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

On September 15-18, 2010, the 7th CISMEF & China-Australia Expo was held successfully. As the co-host, Australia brought nearly 300 enterprises and organizations as well as eight delegations to participate or exhibit in the event, with their stands totaling 10,000 square meters, or 10 percent of the entire exhibition space in the event, the largest proportion among all co-hosts ever recorded. It was also the largest outbound exhibitor delegation ever sent by Australia.