The 5th WCIF was co-sponsored by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and the People's Government of Sichuan Province and held in Chengdu, Sichuan from May 25-28, 2004.

Wu Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, sent a letter of congratulation to the WCIF to deliver her warm congratulation, confirm the positioning, theme and function of the WCIF and expatiate on requirements on further improving the event. Zeng Peiyan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, was present at the WCIF and declared opening of it. Ismail Amat, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Bai Lichen and Li Meng, vice chairmen of the CPPCC, attended the opening ceremony and visited the exhibition. More than 10 ministerial-level foreign dignitaries and nine ambassadors to China attended the meeting and delivered speeches at the relevant forums. More than 20 provincial and ministry-level leaders were present at the meeting. The WCIF attracted more than 2,000 businesspersons from 48 countries and regions, more than 6,000 guests from provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China, more than 12,000 participants and more than 150,000 visitors.

The on-site transactions amounted to 730 million yuan. The signed trade contracts amounted to 11.28 billion yuan and the trade agreement valued 7.3 billion yuan. A total of 270 investment projects were nailed down, total contracted amount 25.458 billion yuan, introducing 18.982 billion yuan of investment. Of that, 125 projects contracted total investment 12.742 billion yuan from outside of the province, introducing 10.804 billion yuan of investment from outside of the province. A total of 18 agreements were signed with total investment amount 3,463 million yuan, introducing 3,415 million yuan from outside of the province.

The total exhibition area reached 45,000 square meters, 85% of that was special decorated booths. The content and forms of eight professional halls and two regional halls were innovated. The forums themed Financial Reform and Enterprise Development, Insurance Serving Agriculture, Farmers and Rural Area, Investment of Chinese Merchants in Western China and China-US International Management and other professional forums featured rich content.

At the economic and trade exchange programs such as the Thailand Day, Burma Day, Western-China – Southeast Asia Cooperation Forum cum Economic and Trade Seminar, Southeastern Asian Culture and Tourism Promotion, International Purchase Program, Western China –Korea TCM Cooperation Development Seminar cum Fair, a number of projects and cooperation agreements were nailed down.