Chongqing - The 8th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) closed in Chongqing on May 24. This year’s fair named the United Kingdom and South Korea’s Gyeonggi-do as its first guest country and guest city of honor, highlighting their focus on the regional trade platform.

Lewis Neal, HM Trade Commissioner for China, said the UK brought more than 60 companies and over 100 delegates to the fair to build economic ties with Chongqing and Western China. Chongqing’s trade with the UK rose more than 25% year on year.

The UK is also looking beyond finance and education, with artificial intelligence as a new focus in Western China. Hui Chenyu, Senior Business Manager of Antobot Ltd., said the company’s plant protection robot uses a special ultraviolet band to treat fungal diseases in crops such as strawberries.

Hui said Western China offers opportunities for high-value crops, including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes and tomatoes. As farming techniques improve in the region, demand is growing for smart and autonomous farming equipment, he said.

Gyeonggi-do also sought closer ties with Chongqing and Western China. Kim Hyeon-gon, President of Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator, said China-South Korea exchanges are shifting toward Western China. The region has a population of more than 380 million, the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, and strong manufacturing and logistics networks.

(Luo Yilin, as an intern, also contributed to the report)