By Xiao Wu, iChongqing

Chongqing - The Second Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) will be held from May 16 to 19 in Chongqing International Expo Center, the Secretary of Party Committee and Director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce Zhang Zhikui announced in the press briefing for WCIFIT on April 29.

Press briefing for the Second Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) 

According to Zhang, this year’s WCIFIT will have Hungary and Uruguay as the guest countries and Sichuan, Guizhou, and Shanxi as the guest provinces. It is estimated that 300 fortune 500 companies, over 2,000 multinational companies and 22,000 guests from 57 countries and regions will participate in the WCIFIT. Foreign dignitaries (former dignitaries) and more than 40 senior officials at or above the vice-ministerial level will also gather in the Fair.

The total exhibition area of WCIFIT is about 110,000 square meters, including 8 exhibition areas under the following themes: Charming Western Cooperation, International Cooperation, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor Cooperation, Pilot Free Trade Zone, Regional Cooperation, Multinational Companies, Central Enterprises, and State-Owned Enterprises, and Famous Private Enterprises. New technologies and products applied in various fields such as high-speed railway, light rail, aerospace, national defense, and military industry will be presented in the Fair.

The WCIFIT will promote a new round of high-level opening-up in the west. It will become a national, international and comprehensive business fair for promoting Western Development in the new era, the Belt and Road Initiative and the green development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It will serve as a diplomatic platform for western China as well as a platform for international economic and trade cooperation, which can help western China fully integrate into the global economic pattern and build an export-oriented economic system.

During the Fair, 48 forums and activities on investment and trade, and cultural exchange will be held such as Asia 300 Global Business Forum Chongqing Summit, The Belt and Road Cross Border Investment and Trade Matchmaking Meeting, The Pioneer of Opening – up in Hinterland China Forum, Pilot Free Trade Zone Matchmaking Meeting,  China International Cooperation Forum on New Energy Vehicles.