(ECNS)-- The 20th Western China International Fair (WCIF) is set to take place in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, from May 25 to 29, featuring a series of firsts, including dual guest countries and dual guest provinces.
With the theme "Deepening Reform to Boost Momentum, Expanding Opening Up to Promote Development," this year's WCIF aims to strengthen regional cooperation, attract investment, and promote high-quality development in western China.
At a press conference held Tuesday in Beijing, Cao Daixue, deputy secretary general of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government, unveiled the highlights of the upcoming event. The fair will consist of one achievements exhibition and three major themed exhibition zones, including 15 themed pavilions.
Hungary and Laos will serve as guest countries of honor, while the United Arab Emirates has been invited as a special cooperation partner.
The main venue will be the Western China International Expo City in Chengdu, with more than 200,000 square meters of exhibition space already booked. Over 3,000 enterprises from 62 countries and regions, as well as 27 provinces across China, are expected to participate. Among them, nearly 300 are foreign or foreign-invested companies.
Domestically, 25 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities -- including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Hainan — have confirmed participation.
Launched in May 2000 as part of China's Western Development strategy, the WCIF has become a key platform for international cooperation and investment. Over the past 25 years, it has hosted delegations from more than 100 countries and regions, attracted 68,000 enterprises and 580,000 participants, and facilitated over 13,000 investment projects, with a total exhibition area exceeding 2.46 million square meters.
（By Zhao Li）
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