Hu Chusheng, secretary-general of the leading committee for the 93rd China Export Commodities Fair and head of the China Foreign Trade Center, said preparatory work had been carried out.

Hu said that a special zone has been reserved for multinational procurement groups, including Home Depot, of the United States, and Auchan, of France, to do business deals.

The online service for the fair would be fast and efficient thanks to the installation of high-performance on-line equipment and the service would be presented in Chinese, Japanese, German and French languages, said Hu.

The fair would be held in two phases, with the first from April 15 to 20, highlighting raw materials, machinery and tools, electronics and electrical appliances, textiles and garments, foodstuffs, livestock, medicine and health care products.

The second phase from April 25 to 30 will showcase home furnishings, gifts and decorative commodities, as well as office items and open-air commodities.

All the preparatory work between the two phases will be completed from April 21 to 24.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2003)