The Third China Changchun International Automobile Fair, which will open on July 15 in the capital of Northeast China's Jilin Province, is expected to be a good opportunity for both domestic and foreign automakers to show their new models in China.
The First Automotive Works Group, China's largest auto maker located in Changchun, will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the same time.
The fair will include a automobile show, seminars, consultation and marketing services and some auto-related cultural activities, according to Cui Jie, the vice-mayor of Changchun.
More than 1,000 automobile enterprises from home and abroad have registered to take part in the event. Participants will include Volkswagen, General Motors, Toyota and Chinese auto makers such as Shanghai General Motors. The exhibition ground will cover more than 100,000 square metres.
Experts said automakers' enthusiasm for the event was largely due to the good situation after SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) was brought under control in China and the hurried closure of the Shanghai auto fair in April during the SARS outbreak.
"Auto producers are doing their best to make up for losses caused by SARS," said Cui.
Strict measures will be taken to ensure the cleanness and security of the fair, according to Yin Lilong, a senior official from the Changchun city government.
It will be the third such international automobile fair to be held in Changchun, with the others being held in 1999 and 2001.
Changchun is the cradle of China's auto industry, which saw the birth of first homemade Red Flag sedan and the Jiefang truck. The First Automotive Works is currently the largest auto group in China with a sales income of almost 84 billion yuan (US$10 billion) in 2002.
(China Daily July 2, 2003)
