The largest-scale China-EU investment and trade fair is scheduled to be held in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, in November 2006.

The fair will be co-sponsored by the EU Commission, China Council for the Promotion of international Trade and the provincial government of Sichuan.

The two-day fair is expected to draw nearly 400 businesses from 25 EU countries and 500 Chinese businesses, said Franz Jessen, minister-counsellor of the EU delegation to China at a signing ceremony of the fair Friday.

About 6,000 one-to-one talks will be held between the Sino-EU enterprises during the fair, which will focus on agriculture, tourism, medical care, environmental protection, machinery, construction equipment and IT industry, he said.

Most EU businesses and financial groups have had economic relations with the coastal Chinese cities, Jessen said, adding that it will be a good chance for the EU enterprises to explore markets in western China regions.

China-EU trade relations have witnessed fast development in recent years. In 2004, the bilateral trade hit 177.3 billion US dollars. China has turned to be EU's second largest trade partner.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2005)