With the theme of "Strengthening Cooperation and Accelerating Development", the 4th Western China International Fair was held in Chengdu, Sichuan from September 25 to 28, 2003. The fair was hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, and Sichuan Provincial People’s Government. 

 

Huang Mengfu, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, leaders of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, as well as Longin Pastusiak, Speaker of the Polish Senate, Joseph Eichenberger, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank, Gary Knell, former Deputy Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, and Anna Chan Chennault, the Chairman of the American Council for International Cooperation attended the fair. The fair attracted more than 1,300 merchants from 37 countries and regions around the world, and more than 3,000 representatives, 6,000 merchants, and 6,000 professional visitors from 20 domestic provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. More than 15,000 delegates participated in the fair, and the number of visitors exceeded 150,000.

 

During the fair, 220 investment promotion project contracts were signed with a total amount of RMB 25.165 billion. Among them, 98 investment projects from outside Sichuan were introduced, with a total investment of RMB 13.815 billion, and RMB 13.381 billion in funds from outside Sichuan. Five foreign (overseas) investment projects were introduced, with a total of USD 16.54 million of foreign (overseas) funds introduced. Commodity trade transactions totaled RMB 330 million, signed merchandise trade contract orders totaled RMB 9.87 billion, and signed trade agreements reached RMB 6.4 billion.

 

Focusing on the professionalism, the fair established 7 professional pavilions including Information Industry Pavilion, Major Technology Equipment Manufacturing Pavilion, Cultural Industry Pavilion, Tourism Boutique Pavilion, Major Construction Project Pavilion, Light Industry and Food Pavilion, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Pavilion, as well as Chengdu Pavilion that showing the comprehensive strength of Chengdu's economic development and superior investment environment. The total exhibition covered an area of 35,000 square meters with more than 2,000 booths, of which 80% of the booths were special booths, making it the largest exhibition with the highest quality and level in Western China. 

 

The conference was divided into four parts: investment briefing, economic and trade negotiation events, forum events and promotion events. The major events such as forums and negotiations were mainly international events. Among the 10 economic and trade negotiation events arranged, 9 were international events, and the counterparties involved 18 countries or overseas regions, accounting for 90%; and among the 8 forum events held, 6 forums were foreign-related international events, accounting for 75%, and 45% of the lecturers who delivered speeches were foreign guests. 

 

For the first time, WCIF held the International Sourcing Day, with more than 60 buyers participating, and more than 20 of them were from Fortune 500 companies, providing buyers as many as tens of thousands of commodities with purchase lists totaled hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition, more than 700 suppliers participated in the fair.