The APEC e-commerce exposition, first scheduled for April but postponed because of SARS, has been rescheduled in the seaside city of Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, for June 15 to 19, next year, as approved by the APEC trade ministers' meeting and the Chinese government.

Officials of the organizing committee said the exposition was the first major event in e-commerce sponsored by the Asian and Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).

The expo would feature the theme, "Digital APEC embracing tomorrow", and would show the latest developments of IT industries of APEC members and e-commerce modes. The event would also help promote investment and cooperation in e-commerce and raise e-commerce development among small and medium-sized enterprises, said officials.

The expo will be jointly sponsored by APEC, China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Information Industry, and the People's Government of Shandong Province.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2003)