On the morning of June 29th, the 19th Western China International Fair (WCIF), jointly organized by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Science and Technology, State Administration for Market Regulation, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the People’s Government of Sichuan Province, was inaugurated in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and announced the commencement of the fair. Pornpetch, President of the Senate of Thailand, Shrestha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal, and Kasmambetov, State Secretary of Kyrgyzstan, were present and delivered speeches. Ek Sam Ol, a member of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party and Chairman of the Khmer-Chinese Friendship Association, delivered a video speech. Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, Wang Shouwen, Representative for International Trade Negotiations (Ministerial level) and Vice Minister of Commerce, and Ren Zhenhe, Governor of Gansu Province, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Huang Qiang, Governor of Sichuan Province, presided over the opening ceremony.

Prior to the opening ceremony, Wang Shouwen, Representative for International Trade Negotiations (Ministerial level) and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, accompanied Vice Premier He Lifeng on a tour of the exhibition hall. Wu Zhengping, the Director-General of our bureau, accompanied them to participate in relevant activities.

This year’s WCIF carries the theme of “New Era of China, New Opportunities for Western China”, with a focus on high-level opening-up, deepening regional exchanges and cooperation, and serving the construction of a modern industrial system. Thailand is the guest of honor, and Gansu Province holds the rotating chairmanship. The planned exhibition area covers a total of 200,000 square meters. Participants in the exhibition include 56 countries and regions, 25 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities), and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps from within China, as well as 21 cities (prefectures) in Sichuan Province. Six main thematic halls have been established, including the BRI Cooperation Hall, the New Era Western Development Hall, the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin City Economic Circle Construction Hall, the Regional Cooperation and Development Hall, the Enterprise Development Hall, and the Sichuan “Five Regions Co-Prosperity” Hall. Additionally, four professional exhibitions on the digital economy, hydrogen energy industry, elderly care services, and the rehabilitation industry aim to create a platform for investment promotion, trade cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

During the exhibition, a series of events have been held, including the 12th Western China Investment Promotion Fair & Contract Signing Ceremony of Economic Cooperation Projects, the 14th Western China International Sourcing Fair, the 17th EU-China Business & Technology Cooperation Fair, the 12th China (Sichuan)-South & Southeast Asia Business Leaders Summit, and the 2023 Belt and Road Overseas Chinese Business Summit.