The First China International Private Equity Forum, the nation's inaugural forum of this kind, opened in the northern port city of Tianjin on Wednesday.

The forum has attracted around 200 private equity funds, intermediaries and investment companies from 17 countries such as the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Russia and Germany, organizers said.

About 1,200 Chinese enterprises will also be present, representing a broad cross-section of markets from manufacturing, information technology, real estate, retail and whole sale, energy and resource development sectors.

During the three-day forum starting yesterday, attendees will have ample opportunity to link up with potential investors and service providers.

A "speed dating" activity will also be held to match up target companies and potential investors enabling them to directly exchange crucial information.

The forum is jointly sponsored by the Tianjin municipal government, the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the US-based Association For Corporate Growth.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2007)