A new Pingyao Chamber of Commerce was launched at Taiyuan, capital of Northern China's Shanxi province on July 26. Its first-round international investments fair held by the chamber has many contracts signed with foreign investors.

The chamber has more than 70 members now, whose aim is to promote Taiyuan and Pingyao–another city in the province, cooperation in economy, trade and employee training, and to produce more transnational enterprises in the province.

The leading company?in the chamber , Shanxi Huasheng Heavy Industry Group, made good use of its international relations to secure contracts with companies in Cyprus, Greece, Germany, the US, Spain and Uganda, in real estate development, equipment manufacturing, steel structure building, stone processing, building decoration materials, and logistics.

In addition, the chamber will draw together small companies specializing in wood and brick carving set up by Pingyao residents, to encourage them to enter world markets and promote Pingyao culture globally.