CRI听力:International CES Asia Opens in Shanghai

Over 250 exhibits have been set up in a 20-thousand square-metre arena in Shanghai's Pudong District.

The three-day event is meant to showcase both international and Chinese technology.

CES Asia director John Kelly says setting up a show in China just made sense.

"Time and time again we heard that China would be the place to do such a show. There are several factors for that. One; there's a rising middle class here in China with disposable income. There are a lot of technology enthusiasts here, just the sheer size of the market. These are all factors that play into why companies put such an emphasis on this marketplace. Behind the United States, this is the second largest marketplace in the world for consumer electronics."
Numerous Chinese companies are showcasing their latest technology in Shanghai.

JD Smart is showcasing their new DingDong Smart Speaker.

JD Smart's Chief Technology Officer, Leslie Liu, says Chinese companies are making a lot of headway when it comes to technological advancements.

"Ten years ago it's hard to imagine that a Chinese company will be a major player in the very competitive domain such as home automation or telecommunication, but today it's happening. This is a great opportunity for JD to showcase to the world that the Chinese company not only can make, but also can innovate."

Numerous vehicle-makers are also showing off their latest tech advancements.

International automakers, including Audi, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and Ford have displays at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Mike Tinskey, Ford's Global Director for vehicle electrification & infrastructure, says advancing new tech for their vehicles in China is one of their top priorities.

"Technology is driving the entire market and everything, every consumer that we're probably selling to probably has embraced a smartphone, probably has a high speed data plan, and the vehicle needs to be an extension and we need to embrace all that connectivity and offer them all the features. So, I would say that at equal or more anywhere in the world China is important relative to a technology standpoint."

Stats suggest consumer technology spending hit one trillion US dollars last year, with sales in Asia making up around one third of that.

The Consumer Electronics Show in Shanghai runs through Wednesday.

For CRI, I'm Qian Shanming.