CHINA. China Duty Free Group (CDFG) has shared further details on the ‘Doing Business in Good Faith and Providing Quality Services’ Shanghai Initiative unveiled at the China Duty Free Group Global Partners Meeting on 27 March.
Themed ‘Grow Beyond’, the event brought together a powerful and diverse audience of industry leaders, government representatives, brand owners, partners across the entire industry chain, academics and industry experts, including The Moodie Davitt Report (represented by Chief China Representative Zhang Yimei) from the international travel retail media.
Government and industry representatives at the gathering included China Tourism Group President and CDFG Chairman Fan Yunjun; Global Alliance for Trade in Services President Jiang Zengwei; China-Europe Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation Vice Chairman Pan Feng; and Hainan Provincial People’s Government Deputy Secretary-General Chen Wanxin;.
They were joined by Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development Director Lu Min; Shanghai International Airport Co. CFO Xu Ning; Beijing Capital International Airport Co. CFO Li Zhiyong; and Beijing Capital Airport Commercial & Trading Co. Deputy General Manager Zhou Li.
Joining them were CDFG President and Board Director Luke Chang and other company leaders, along with key representatives from global brands including Shiseido, Coty, Apple, Unitree, Burberry, Valentino, Cartier, Chopard, Kering, Moutai, Bacardi, Diageo and Camus.
The event underscores CDFG’s commitment to product authenticity while also making a strong statement about protecting consumer trust and supporting a healthy industry ecosystem.
The initiative also highlights a meaningful progress within China’s travel retail sector, advancing standardised practices and international engagement at a time when the industry is entering what is described as a “golden period of development”.
Under the leadership of its parent company China Tourism Group (CTG), CDFG is seeking to reinforce its role as a leading global travel retailer. It is guided by a philosophy of “upholding fundamental principles while pursuing innovation, enhancing quality and efficiency, and fostering integrated growth” to support the sector’s move towards higher standards.
CDFG Chief Marketing Officer Matt Liao outlined a four-point initiative at the event. First, he called for upholding the principle of doing business in good faith, ensuring product authenticity, providing quality services, and collectively working to strengthen the foundation of trust in China’s travel retail sector.
Second, Liao underscored deeper openness and synergy, while expanding global presence, and jointly creating a new paradigm of open and win-win cooperation in the industry.
The third point focused on inclusive growth, fostering a healthy ecosystem and establishing a governance framework for the industry built on mutual trust, shared benefits, industry standards and orderly conduct.
He concluded by highlighting the importance of sharing development opportunities, promoting industrial upgrades and creating a world-class travel retail cluster.
In a notable joint commitment, CDFG and its global partners have pledged to drive sustainable growth through collaboration and trust, with a strong focus on product authenticity and quality services to enhance the traveller experience.
Finally, through close collaboration and good faith, the parties dedicated themselves to elevating industry standards and setting a new benchmark for excellence in travel retail.
Through the release of the Shanghai Initiative on Doing Business in Good Faith and Providing Quality Services, CDFG reaffirmed its commitment as an industry leader, aligning with the shared vision of its global partners for the future of the sector.
Looking ahead, CDFG will build on CTG’s extensive industry chain and work alongside global partners to “reinforce integrity as the cornerstone of the sector and fulfil the mission of delivering quality services”.
The company added that this approach will ultimately elevate the travel retail sector to higher standards, allowing the industry to better connect the world and deliver meaningful experiences. ✈
