Contestants compete in a pasta cooking skills contest during the 2nd World Pasta Industry Development Conference in Datong, Oct 22. [Photo/IC]

The 2nd World Pasta Industry Development Conference was held in Datong, North China's Shanxi province, on Oct 21-22.

Hosted by the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry and Datong municipal government, it included activities such as cooking skills competitions, forums, exhibitions, and special talks. 

Top noodle and pastry chefs, famous food culture scholars, representatives of catering companies, and industry experts from around the world discussed and exchanged ideas on professional training, technical exchanges, standard release and industrial coordination based on the development of the international noodle industry.

Visitors admire a selection of pastries and noodles at the 2nd World Pasta Industry Development Conference in Datong, Oct 22. [Photo/IC]

At the main forum of the conference, Datong signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry to jointly build the Chinese Pasta Museum in the city. 

After careful selection by the federation and pastry masters, 10 awards including the Special Contribution Award for the Development of the Pasta Industry and the Gold Award for the 2021 Young Famous Chef Pastry Competition were given to chefs and catering firms skilled in the art of making noodles or pastries.

Zhao Xuebin, vice-mayor of Datong, said that he hoped the city's catering industry would gain experience from the event, promote the high-quality development of the noodle industry and enhance the industrial competitiveness and urban influence of Datong as the "capital of Shanxi food".

People photograph creative pastry dishes cooked by chefs at the 2nd World Pasta Industry Development Conference in Datong on Oct 22. [Photo/IC]

Located in China's agricultural heartland, Datong has a distinctive food culture and boasts world famous noodle specialties such as knife-cut noodles and potato jelly.

In recent years, the city's noodle and pastry industry has become better integrated with agriculture, food processing, tourism, and information industries, with the industry chain continuously being extended.