The second phase of the 17th Guangzhou Fair opened yesterday, presenting a fresh opportunity for the many visiting overseas mayors and senior urban officials to get to know the coastal city a little better. The officials are in town as delegates to the 2009 UCLG World Council Meetings and the Guangzhou International Sister Cities Conference.

The concurrent fair will showcase the latest economic and social developments in Guangzhou, as well as highlight the investment opportunities on offer. Running until November 15, the fair features some 1,200 exhibition stands, covering an area of around 30,000 sq m.

In addition to an exhibition hall solely highlighting local branded products and the latest economic and social developments in the area, the fair also has a number of halls dedicated to Guangzhou's global partner cities.

One hall has been reserved to display the brands and commodities of these overseas and domestic partners, whilst another hall features their agricultural products and foodstuffs.

Assessing the significance of the fair to the city's economic future, Chen Shaokang, deputy secretary-general of the city government of Guangzhou, said: "The municipal authorities have been making considerable efforts to accelerate the development of the Guangzhou Fair and Guangzhou's convention and exhibition industry. This is part of a bid to establish Guangzhou as a pivotal city on the international convention and exhibitions circuit.

"We hope that the fair will become an important platform for political communication, trade cooperation and cultural exchange between Guangzhou and its partner cities across the world."

According to the official, the Guangzhou hall alone covers an area of more than 10,000 sq m and has around 500 exhibition stands. Several of the city's leading businesses, along with 10 of the city's districts - Panyu, Yuexiu, Tianhe, Baiyun, Huangpu, Haizhu, Liwan, Huadu, Luogang and Nansha - and its two subordinate cities, Conghua and Zengcheng, are all attending the event.

All of the local attendees are said to be committed to highlighting Guangzhou's branded goods sector, as well as the new "go-ahead" image of this southern China city.

Chen said a number of the city's industrial sectors would be the focus of the event, including its achievements in the fields of electronics and information technology, bio-medicine, medical and healthcare apparatus, advanced manufacturing technology, optical-mechanical and electrical integration technology, environmental protection, the chemical industry and new materials.

Chen said: "The hi-tech enterprises present at the fair not only help to build up Guangzhou's new image as an innovative city, but also help to strengthen co-operative ties in scientific and technological development between Guangzhou and its partner cities."

Exhibitors from over 30 provinces and cities across the country, including the cities of Shanghai, Taiyuan, Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, Zhengzhou, Nanchang, Nanjing, Haikou, Nanning, Chengdu, Guiyang, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Xining, Liuzhou, Wuzhou, Kunming, Urumqi, Xi'an, Wanzhou, Wenzhou, Shaoguan, Zhanjiang and Yangjiang, as well as several from overseas, notably Bangkok, Manila, Surabaya, Hong Kong and Macao, will all be seeking trade and co-operation opportunities during the four-day event.

The exhibition area covered by overseas organizations accounts for 20.75 percent of the total.

Source: China Daily