Chengdu Well on its Way to Becoming a Key Convention and Exhibition City in China

- The City Speeds Up Internationalization as Part of the Process

CHENGDU, China, Nov. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The 14th Western China International Fair (WCIF) recently concluded in Chengdu. The WCIF is regarded as an important diplomatic, trade cooperation and investment promotion platform in western China. This year's WCIF attracted more than 60,000 attendees from 106 countries and regions, and featured 56 investment promotion events, at which 462 investment contracts with total value of 563.2 billion yuan were signed.

The event, however, is only one of the numerous conventions and exhibitions that were held in Chengdu in 2013. In June and September of this year, the 2013 Fortune Global Forum and the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneur Convention, two prestigious events with global prestige and renown, were held respectively in the city, making Chengdu the only city in the world that hosted the two grand events within a single year. The 2013 Fortune Global Forum was honored as "the grandest fortune global forum in its history," while the 12^th World Chinese Entrepreneur Convention was the largest one of the series in terms of the number of both participating countries and regions as well as of key guests.

In addition, other important international conventions and exhibitions with global prestige and stature were also held in the city, including the 88th China Food & Drinks Fair, the 21st International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, the 16th Chengdu International Auto Show, the 35th IAHR World Congress and the 2013 PATA Travel Mart.

From January to September, Chengdu through conventions and exhibitions boosted consumer spending by 36.33 billion yuan, facilitated trading of goods in all categories of 111.89 billion yuan, and saw the signing of 743 investment contracts valued at more than 300 billion yuan in the aggregate, according to public data.

Chengdu is consolidating its position as the largest convention and exhibition city in central and western China, one of the top convention and exhibition cities across the country, as well the city of choice to host major national and international conventions and exhibitions in the country's central and western part.