Approximately 320 projects will be seeking foreign investors during the Fuzhou International Investment Promotion Month 2000, which will run from May 8 to June 6, says Zhao Xuemin, Party secretary of Fuzhou, capital city of East China's Fujian Province.
The projects will seek financing totalling US$10.48 billion.
"With China's prospective entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) this year, we are positioned to seek more investment and trade," he said last week in Beijing.
The projects involve infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, science, technology, tourism, trade and real estate, said organizing committee officials.
"We are trying to take advantage of our unique geographical location near Taiwan to make Fuzhou a bridge for all the provinces on the Chinese mainland to conduct more economic activities with Taiwan," he said.
Fuzhou is the hometown for more than 2.5 million overseas Chinese. Investment from Taiwan has long been key to fueling the local economy. To date, more than 50 per cent of foreign-invested enterprises in Fuzhou are Taiwan-based companies.
Zhao said Fuzhou officials will help "to promote the mutual understanding between Taiwan and the vast western areas." It is part of Fuzhou's efforts to help accomplish the national goal of developing western China, Zhao said.
"Exhibitions on new and advanced science and technologies across the Straits will be another eye-catching event during the month," Zhao said.
Improving their technology has been a key concern for companies, Zhao added.
Coinciding with the promotion month, there will be another trade fair. It will run from May 28 to June 1 and focus on advances in science and technology.
The trade fair is being organized by the provincial government, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Information Industry.
More than 1,000 high-tech enterprises from home and abroad, venture capital organizations and 200 colleges and universities will showcase their latest projects at the fair.
In collaboration with the China Mayor's Association, the local government will hold a mayors' forum.
"We will centre on major areas, including the WTO and the business opportunities across the Straits, the exploration of the country's western areas," Zhao said.
On a related front, the local government will invite tourism administrators from more than 100 cities from home and abroad to discuss ways to strengthen the visitor industry. Representatives will come from Hong Kong, Macao and cities in Taiwan and Thailand.
(China Daily)
