Eastern Chinese city of Bozhou made a fruitful progress on inviting outside investment after reaping 13.9 billion yuan ($2.2 billion) for 29 signed projects.

More than 200 business representatives from more than 20 inland regions, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as from Germany attended the 2011 China (Bozhou) investment Environment and project signing ceremony on Sept 9 in Anhui province.

Bozhou's top leaders, including Party chief Fang Chunming, Mayor Shen Qiang, Vice- Mayor Yuan Fang, also participated in the ceremony, which took place at the city's executive conference center.

Mayor Shen Qiang briefed the participants on the city's investment environment and preferential policy, after watching a publicity film entitled "Medicine and Health in Bozhou" with them.

The long history and cultural tradition is a gift for Bozhou in keeping pace with modern values and continuous development, he said, adding that with abundant resources, distinctive local traits, open and enlightened policy, the city is ready to welcome merchants from all walks of life.

The ceremony differed from previous ones in three aspects:

First, noticeable effect on attracting big enterprises as TYC group, Carrefour, Howard Johnson International and many other famous firms from home and abroad have all invested in Bozhou. Among the 29 newly-signed projects, 7 projects each carried an input of more than 1 billion yuan.

Second, updating the local industrial structure. A total of 23 industrial projects in 29 involved new energy, new materials, environmental protection and biological spheres, while six other service projects involve deluxe hotels, resorts and shopping malls.

Last, high efficiency of enforcement. A big part of contract projects are now being prepared and about to start construction soon after while the remaining items are making their site-selection.