Investment And Trade Forum In Xian, China Attracts Over 100,000 Merchants

From Ng Che Yean Xi'an (China), April 6 (Bernama) -- More than 100,000 domestic and overseas merchants are participating in 16th Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China, the most influential investment and trade show in west China. Themed "Expansion of Regional Cooperation, Promotion of Scientific Development", the trade forum involved 2,600 booths covering an area of 80,000 sq metres, and is held in Xi'an, west China's Shaanxi Province from April 5-9. The state council sees the Investment and Trade Forum as an important platform to promote regional cooperation and open economy development and carry out the west China development policy during the implementation of the country's Twelfth Five-Year Plan, said Governor of Shaanxi Province, Zhao Zhengyong, at the opening ceremony here Thursday. China aimed to develop the economy of the west region and expand the cooperation between west China and foreign countries. Zhao said the forum is useful to promote the prosperity of east and west China and implement the west China development policy. The exhibition included sectors such as tourism, energy conservation and environmental protection, and a series of domestic and overseas investment and trade promotion activities will be held during the five-day event. Malaysian Ambassador to China Iskandar Sarudin was among the foreign guests who attended the opening ceremony, and a delegation comprising Malaysian entrepreneurs led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry participated in the forum. Delegations from 67 countries and regions including the United States, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Germany and France also took part in the forum. Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry secretary-general Mohd Hashim Abdullah said the ministry had built up good relationships with the local authorities after having participated in the forum for many times. He said this helped the ministry to explore the Chinese market and create new ideas to promote Malaysian products in the country especially the west region. -- BERNAMA