The 2nd Western China International Fair was held in Chengdu, Sichuan from May 25 to 28, 2001. 2001 Western China International For Investment and Trade  and Hong Kong Advantage Expo was hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, and Hong Kong Trade Development Council. 

 

More than 1,300 entrepreneurs and government officials from more than 20 countries and regions, and more than 6,000 representatives from 12 domestic provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and 7 cities (including Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Daqing, and Xuzhou), as well as cities and prefectures in Sichuan attended the fair. Mr. Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, and Donald Tsang, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government, led delegations to participate the fair.

 

The exhibition area of the fair reached 23,000 square meters, with 1,100 booths, 900 exhibitors and 100,000 visitors. During the fair, cities and prefectures of Sichuan signed 165 investment cooperation project contracts with domestic and foreign investors, with a total investment of RMB 14 billion, of which RMB 12.8 billion of funds were introduced by agreements. Among them, there were 33 foreign-funded projects, with a total investment of RMB 5.343 billion and the introduction of foreign funds of RMB 4.565 billion; 132 domestic cooperation projects, with a total investment of RMB 8.658 billion, and the introduction of domestic funds of RMB 8.235 billion. The value of signed trade contracts reached RMB 17.3 billion, and the on-site trade volume reached RMB 340 million.

 

The fair focused on IT industry, food processing, and clothing and apparel industry, and held China's Accession to the WTO Opportunities and Challenges Seminar, Western China Development and International Economic and Trade Cooperation Lectures, and Digital China Forum Lectures. Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela participated in the fair and delivered a 30-minute speech on economic and trade cooperation between China and Venezuela. Donald Tsang, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government delivered a speech on financial issues. Some countries (regions), domestic provinces (municipalities), and cities (prefectures) in Sichuan held investment and trade briefings respectively.