China's companies have moved their launch events online to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Shanghai Fashion Week (Xinhua file photo)

Shanghai Fashion Week (SHFW) has broadcast its entire roster of runway shows online, showcasing 150 brands with technologies ranging from live streaming to augmented reality. Besides the catwalk shows, viewers will be able to buy items online while they watch.

The online launch is a pioneering step as SHFW embraces digital technologies and helps companies explore and adapt to consumers' new shopping habits, said Lyu Xiaolei, vice secretary-general of the SHFW's organizing committee, adding that it also helps business resume operations and create opportunities for designers to sell their products.

Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, recently unveiled a new smartphone through live streaming, attracting nearly 2 million viewers. According to the company's data, online sales of the product exceeded 200 million yuan in one minute.

Chinese carmaker FAW Car also held an online launch event for its flagship Bestune recently, inviting famous talk show hosts to promote its products. Yang Dayog, vice president of the company, also did an online talk show for viewers for the purpose.

The so-called cloud launch events avoid the convergence of people and save venue and labor costs, said Wang Yanlong, a professor at the College of Literature and Journalism of Sichuan University in southwest China's Sichuan province.

As technologies, including 5G, augmented reality and virtual reality mature, the cloud launch events will feature better performance, Wang added.

Meanwhile, online events were held by governments in provinces such as Jiangsu, Shandong and Jilin to honor medical workers who contributed to the epidemic prevention and control.

Eight tech companies in the Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing, southwest China introduce self-developed high-tech products through live streaming.