Co-hosted by the state's Agriculture Ministry and local governments, the fair aims to enliven the domestic markets of farmproduce with the theme of "Exchange, cooperation and progress".

During the fair, a series of seminars will also be held to discuss the influence of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on domestic agriculture as well as China's countermeasures.

According to the fair organization committee, envoys of about 30 countries including the United States, Britain and France have expressed the intention of attending the fair.

So far, the committee has received participation plans from over 130 foreign enterprises with 1,070 exposition booths already occupied.

Yang Qingcai, Jilin's vice-governor in charge of agriculture, said that the fair would bring more channels of investment for provincial agriculture development.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2002)