The port city Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province will host a high profile information technology fair which it hopes will attract more global IT giants to assist in the revitalization of the region.

Dalian Vice-Mayor Dai Yulin said the second China International Software & Information Services Fair, scheduled from next Wednesday to Saturday, will help connect the region with the world's major IT companies.

An indication of the importance of the event is that one-third of its participants will come from countries with leading IT industries.

Over 260 IT application projects approved by the Northeast Revitalization Office of the State Council requiring a total investment of 4 billion yuan (US$481 million) will be presented to investors at the fair.

The official revealed that an overall plan and related policies for the development of the IT sector as part of the revitalization of the regional economy will be publicized by leading National Development and Reform Commission officials.

Ministerial officials from Japan, India, South Korea, Malaysia and China will sign a joint declaration to further IT industry cooperation, the official added.

The fair received strong central government backing when it made its debut last year, with the State Council giving it the unique designation of a national-level IT fair.

Vice Premier Wu Yi said the fair should have two goals - be overseas-oriented and focus on the revitalization of the Northeast.

Vice-Mayor Dai said this year's fair, besides featuring software and information services, will also offer a venue for hardware, telecommunications, digital, information solutions and IT education and training products and technologies.

More than 70 multinational IT companies such as Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Dell will take part in the fair, alongside China's leading IT developers such as Lenovo, Neosoft and Digital China.

Dalian Information Industry Bureau Director Luan Qingwei said the software outsourcing business will attract over 200 software developers and vendors during the fair.

(China Daily July 23, 2004)