The visitors to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre during week 12 got good value for money. Halls 1 and 2 hosted ElectronicaChina and ProductronicaChina which were running along with PCIM China, and Halls 7 and 8 were the home of Semicom China. The latter was drawing in over 6,000 visitors a day. Mind you, if you had taken a wrong turning shortly before the SNIEC you could have gone to The 3rd Plum Blossom Exhibition but that was very much an open-air event and would have been a chilly experience. SNEIC, on the other hand, was warm and welcoming and this show will doubtless be seen as something of a landmark occasion. That Messe M nchen took the initiative and added the Productronica element to the established Electronica may have much to do with the discussions which are now taking place between them and the CPCA to see how a joint event can be held in the future. Combine that with the news that Nepcon Shanghai would be moving to the autumn and you have the potential for a really comprehensive and world-class event in all eight halls at the SNEIC. We await developments with no little interest.