上海展覽中心是經上海市人民政府批準組建的專業從事會議、展覽業務的經濟實體。 
上海展覽中心主體建筑建成于1955年3月，是新中國成立后上海建成最早的會展場所。五十多年來，在這里舉行過重大政治、外事活動，接待過黨的三代領導人以及數十位外國國家元首、政府首腦，常年擔負著市委全會、黨代會、市人代會、市政協會議、八一建軍節招待會、國慶招待會、春節團拜會等市重大政治任務和市委、市府、市人大、市政協日常重要會議的服務保障工作。每年還組織和舉辦數百個國內外展覽會和許多國際著名品牌的商業推介活動，已成為全市主要的會議中心和著名的展覽場館，是本市重要的政治、經濟、科技、文化活動中心和對外交流的窗口之一，為上海的改革開放和社會發展做出了重要的貢獻。 上海展覽中心建筑在上海建筑群中獨具一格。其俄羅斯風格建筑雄偉典雅、裝飾華麗，1989年被評為“1949—1989上海十佳建筑”，1999年被評為“建國50周年上海十大金獎經典建筑”，2005年被評為上海市第四批優秀歷史建筑，載入上海建筑史冊。上海展覽中心已連續六次被評為上海市文明單位。 上海展覽中心占地9.3萬平方米，建筑面積8萬平方米，坐落在繁華的南京西路和交通主干道延安中路之間，具有十分優越的地理條件。歷經多次擴建改造，2001年又進行了保持原有建筑風貌、提升功能的全面加固大修改造，造就了“南展北會”的新格局，現有展覽面積2.2萬平方米，大小40多個能分別容納數十人至上千人的多功能會議室和會議廳。南部以序館、中央大廳、東一館、西一館和西二館組成展覽區，北部以友誼會堂和東二館組成會議區。兩個區域既相互獨立，又相互聯系，形成南展北會、能分能合的功能格局。 上海展覽中心以現代會展業的經營理念，一流的會展設施，優美的人文環境、專業化的人才隊伍和誠信的人性化服務，在上海會展行業中將發揮更大作用，為上海的經濟和社會發展做出更大貢獻。

Established with the approval of Shanghai Municipal People's Government, SEC is an economic entity specializing in offering large-scale conference and exhibition services. With its buildings completed in March 1955, SEC is the first ever site for conference and exhibition after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past five decades or so, SEC has been the venue for quite a number of important political events and foreign affairs, where CCP leaders of the first, second and the third generation arrived to attend meetings and to meet scores of heads of states from foreign countries. SEC boasts the host to a great many successful international and domestic conferences, exhibitions, and commercial promotion activities. . SEC is a center for important political, economic, science & technology and cultural activities. Architecturally, SEC is blessed with a unique characteristic. With its magnificent and elegant Russian styles and exquisitely graceful decorations, SEC was awarded in 1989 the title of one of the "Shanghai Ten Best Architectures in the period of 1949-1989". In 1999, it is again ranked among "Shanghai Ten classic Architectures with Gold Medals during the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the PRC". According to their functionality, SEC is divided into two parts, the north part and the south part. With Introductory Hall, Central Hall, No.1 East Hall, NO.1 West Hall, No.2 West Hall, the southern part forms an exhibition area, Friendship Hall together with No.2 East Hall in the north is designated as the conference area. SEC is an ideal venue for conference, exhibition and large-scale event in Shanghai.