International fair puts charisma of western China on global stage

The 19th Western China International Fair got underway in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Thursday, attracting some 30,000 domestic and foreign participants on the opening day of the five-day event.

It is the first national-level major exhibition held in western China after the country's COVID-19 prevention and control policies were relaxed in January.

The fair is organized by 15 ministries and commissions of the central government including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as 12 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in western China, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The Boao Forum for Asia also provides support for the fair.

As well as more than 3,500 exhibitors from 56 countries and regions, 27 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps taking part, 17 countries, including Thailand, Belarus, Chile, Australia and Pakistan, have set up national pavilions, focusing on the cooperation achievements and investment opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

According to Ge Xiaopeng, deputy secretary-general of the Sichuan provincial government, the fair will highlight the achievements of the BRI and help expand opening-up and cooperation, highlight the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, promote the joint construction and development of Sichuan and Chongqing municipality, highlight the introduction of foreign investment, expand foreign trade, promote consumption and help the economy recover.

During the fair, more than 30 investment promotion activities of various kinds will be held.

Cities in western China have set up eye-catching pavilions to showcase themselves.

The Ya'an Pavilion displays the city's key industries such as digital economy, advanced materials, equipment manufacturing, cultural tourism, modern agriculture, modern service industry, and the construction achievements of an important destination of the world's giant panda cultural tourism.

In an investment promotion event held in Chengdu on Wednesday, Ya'an signed 54 investment projects involving big data, the lithium industry, new energy, new materials and equipment manufacturing.

Established in 2000, the Western China International Fair over the past 23 years has attracted nearly 100 countries and regions to participate and a total project investment of over 7.4 trillion yuan ($1.02 trillion) has been signed, effectively promoting the development and opening-up of western China, Ge said.