The aim of the fair is to further open up the country to the outside world.

As this is the first national trade fair to be held after China's entry into the World Trade Organization, it will be likely to attract more foreign investors.

To date, some 150 economic delegations have already signed up.

Over 30 symposiums on international investment and the development potential of Chinese industries will be held during the four-day fair.

Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and other government departments, the trade fair is the only nationwide business event aimed at attracting investment from abroad and boosting China's direct investment in other countries.

The fair comprises the Exhibition on Investment, the Forum on International Investment and the Trade Fair on Multilateral Investment.

During the five previous fairs, China had signed 10,536 cooperative contracts with businessmen from 98 countries and regions. Contractual investment had reached 56.5 billion US dollars.

(People's Daily July 30, 2002)