The 11th China International Fair for Investment and Trade ended
on Tuesday with the signing of investment projects worth US$22.99
billion, including US$19 billion from overseas investors,
organizers said.
The four-day fair is a national investment promotion event held
annually since 1997 in Xiamen, Fujian Province. This year a total
of 1,070 investment projects were signed.
The fair attracted a record 13,000 businessmen from 119
countries or regions, 419 investment agencies, and 102 leading
chain enterprises from overseas, according to the organizers.
Chinese companies who planned to invest overseas also signed 63
intention agreements with foreign institutions involving US$557
million.
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Vice Premier Wu Yi at Friday's opening ceremony called on
multinationals to strengthen their cooperation with local partners
regarding technological innovation.
"The Chinese government will actively explore new ways to
promote foreign and overseas investment in order to participate in
international economic cooperation at higher levels and in broader
fields," she said.
Wu announced that the Chinese government would offer four
billion yuan in low-interest loans in the next three years to
Chinese firms to encourage investment in Caribbean countries. His
announcement was made at the second China-Caribbean trade and
economic cooperation forum during the fair.
From 1997 to date, the fair has cumulatively attracted nearly
US$70 billion of overseas investment to China.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2007)