New | Global tech events expand to China amid fast rise of both local buyers and manufacturers
Some of the tech industry's most influential events and forums are coming to the world's largest economy for the first time.
China's transition from a manufacturer of hi-tech gadgets to one of the world's leading consumers of smartphones and other devices has not only grabbed the attention of global tech firms, but also helped bring some of the industry's most influential events to the country for the first time.
It will be the first time CES has been held outside of the US, as organisers Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) aim to expand the reach of their audience in Asia and around the world.
Many game-changing products have been announced at past CES events over the show's more than three decade history, including Sony's videocassette recorder (1970), Microsoft's games console Xbox (2001) and earlier this year Google's Android-based "Smart TVs". In more recent years, Chinese tech firms such as Lenovo and ZTE have also used CES to launch new products ranging from laptops to smartphones.
Tencent, one of China's "big three" tech firms, is a founding partner of the event, tickets for which will go on sale for US$3,500 each.