The fourth Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium will give a unique opportunity to China's fourth economically strongest province when it opens today in Ningbo, a coastal city in East China's Zhejiang Province.
This year's event will continue until next Wednesday and, building on successes of the last three years, is aimed at luring more foreign investment to drive economic development.
More than 2,000 investment projects will be presented at the symposium. They are expected to clinch a total investment of US$7.3 billion.
They cover a wide range of sectors, including advanced technology, electronics, modern agriculture and textiles.
About 6,128 trade representatives from more than 30 countries and regions will take part in the symposium.
Unlike past symposiums, projects related to household goods will become the new focus as a special international fair will feature this huge industry in and outside China.
Wang Yongming, executive deputy governor of the province, said: "It is the first of its type in the country to place such focus on the household-goods industry." The new focus signals that Ningbo will meet another international trade peak, especially in terms of household goods, which will continue to support the city as well as Zhejiang's entire export volume, he said.
(China Daily June 8, 2002)
