Jilin expo a bridge for expanding northeast trade

The fourth China Jilin Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo opened yesterday to again bridge buyers and suppliers in the provincial capital of Changchun over the next four days.

One of the most influential trade fairs on the mainland, it offers an important opportunity and platform for opening up in Jilin", said provincial Party Secretary Wang Min.

We must do our best to make this year's event the best ever in service for the opening up of Jilin, revitalization of northeast China and enhanced cooperation and communications between countries and regions, he noted.

The expo continues to grow after its successful first session three years ago. The number of contracts signed increased from 132 in 2005 to 169 last year, with the aggregate value growing from 36.79 billion yuan to 70 billion yuan.

It is now ranked as a national A-level exposition and among China's 10-most influential government expos.

The number of exhibition booths have increased to 2,000 this year, with 708 for overseas exhibitors and 1,292 for domestic participants. A new 3,000-sq-m outdoor exhibition area for engineering vehicles and machinery is a highlight this year.

The international image of the expo appeals to suppliers, enabling both returning and new entrants to promote their brands and expand sales.

I believe there will be more extensive cooperation between China and Sri Lanka at the fair, said a commercial counselor of Sri Lankan Embassy in China. The Sri Lanka delegation, attending the expo for the first time this year, is promoting its native products including black tea and jewels.

Twenty-five government officials and 120 business representatives from the Russian Federation will attend the expo to display products and seek trade opportunities.

The show now underway has attracted more than 60 of the world's top 500 companies, including Wal-Mart, Johnson Controls and General Motors from the United States, SK and Doosan from South Korea, Japan's Toyota and Sumitomo Corp and Germany's Siemens and ZF.

Some 67 financial and investment institutes from 36 countries and regions are also in attendance. Big-name banks including Citibank, Bank of America, Standard Chartered Bank and Deutsche Bank are promoting their financial and investment products and services.

Seventeen large domestic corporations, including China Power Investment Corp, China State Construction Engineering Corp, China Electronics Corp, China National Foreign Trade Transportation (Group) Corp and China Metallurgical Group Corp are adding their weight to the trade fair.

Other participants include 86 overseas trade associations and 71 purchasing agents.

Organizers are also hosting a range of events to enrich the show including the well-established Northeast Asia Economic Cooperation Forum jointly sponsored by the United Nations Development Program and the fair's organizing committee. It has been well received during the past three sessions of the expo, hailed by both businesspeople and government officials from home and abroad.

The Yanbian Korean minority autonomous prefecture and the cities of Siping, Liaoyuan and Tonghua will use the mega event to display their industries and invite investment.

The expo has also helped improve public administrative services, said sources from the local government.