Foreign investors are becoming increasingly attracted to western China's agricultural sector, which will assist the overall development of this region, according to officials and participants at the 11th China Yangling Agricultural High-tech Fair.

Increased foreign participation in the fair is an indication of the event's growing role in forging links between the sector and the outside world, said Zhang Guangqiang, Party Secretary of the Yangling High-tech Agricultural Industrial Zone, the venue of the fair, which ends today.

More than 100 foreign organizations from 18 countries and regions booked 102 stands at the fair, said Zhang.

Frank Wang, chairman of the Netherlands-China Economic Cooperation Promotion Council, said his organization regards Yangling and Shaanxi Province as major partners in future cooperation.

Eight companies from the Netherlands, the world's third largest exporter of agricultural products, attended the fair.

The Dutch firms' cooperation projects include the development of new energy, agricultural economy, flowers, and the establishment of a Chinese farm in the Netherlands.

(China Daily November 9, 2004)