Show slakes thirst for new technology

Bottled drinks wait for their labels to be applied as they make their way along a production line at the 2009 China International Beverage Industry Exhibition on Science and Technology, which opened yesterday at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. The three-day event boasts an exhibition area of 18,000 square meters, making this year's the biggest in its history, and 167 domestic and overseas exhibitors are showcasing state-of-the-art technologies. China's beverage production is expected to hit 75 million tons this year, the world's second-largest.