Registration for the XVIII FIT World Congress started in December 2007. Towards the end of the Early Bird Deadline of March 31 2008, the number of registrants had surpassed previous expectation (1,000). By the end of March, some 1,300 participants from 72 countries and regions had submitted their registration forms to the Congress Secretariat.

The geographic distribution of the registrants: Asia (67%, of which 58% are from China), Europe (22%), North America (6%), Oceania (2.5％), Latin America (1.5%), Africa (1%).

The distribution of the registrants in terms of trade: institutes of higher learning and research (48%), professional associations (21%), translation, localization and tools companies (10%), publishing and media (4%), others (including government agencies, individuals) (17%).

(China.org.cn May 7, 2008)