Prior to the start of the ITER Council meeting in Suzhou, all delegates took part in the opening ceremony of the "ITER and Nuclear Fusion Exhibition". The exhibition, organized by the Chinese Domestic Agency, explains the promise and challenges of fusion as an energy source, concentrating on the contribution of each ITER Member.

A combination of audiovisual displays, models, ITER components and explanatory posters created a stimulating and didactic exhibition. The most popular exhibit was the two-metre tall steel model of ITER whose "plasma" glows ever brighter as the visitor raises the temperature in the vacuum vessel. 

Many thousands of visitors are expected at the exhibition held in the Suzhou Industrial Park.