Wang Gaimin, secretary-general of the five-day exhibition's organizing committee, said the contracts cover cooperation, technology transfer and product sales.

During the exhibition, more than 6,500 items of agricultural biological engineering, agricultural techniques and machinery, livestock husbandry and forestry were displayed for cooperation and investment, Wang said.

The exhibition attracted agricultural scientists and business people from 18 countries and regions, and 700 institutions and companies from 27 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China, the secretary-general said.

Nearly 50 noted agricultural experts, business people and senior officials gave lectures to more than 6,000 visitors and 85 special agricultural technical training sessions were held which some 6,300 people attended during the exhibition, said Wang.

The five-day exhibition received a total of 1.46 million visitors including agricultural technicians, those in financial circles, enterprise and farming, both from home and abroad, the secretary-general added.

(China Daily November 11, 2002)