The northeastern Chinese of Harbin is gearing up for another international trade fair. People now can feel the heat right before the opening of the trade fair. 
 
Though famous for its winter ice festival, the summer heat has left no trace of Harbin's majestic ice palaces and intricate ice sculptures. But the level of excitement here is climbing with the temperature in anticipation of the coming annual trade fair-an event that's been held in the city for the last 14 years. Although traffic has become a virtual blizzard of steel, glass, and rubber, taxi and bus drivers can't hide their excitement; and hotel owners have to say "sorry, all booked" with an over exaggerated frown to hide their reserved bliss.

The Harbin trade fair is an international platform for businessmen from Russia and Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. Wang Limin, deputy governor of the province sets a high tone for the fair.

Wang Limin says domestic companies have high expectations for the Russian and Eastern European market and hope to build connections through Harbin. The northeastern Chinese city has much more experience and boasts many advantages in the financial, regional, and labor markets. And for some multi-national companies in other parts of the world, they expect to benefit from the Chinese government's favorable policies on the revival of the northeast. And they consider Harbin as a bridge to achieve that goal.

The deputy provincial governor stresses the attractive points of this year's. This is the first time Heilongjiang has cooperated with another province, eastern Zhejiang Province. The two see big potential in their mutually complementary industries, as Heilongjiang has abundant natural resources while Zhejiang's light-industry products are in high demand on the Russian market. In addition, this year's fair will include some professional seminars and promotions in such fields as foreign intelligence imports, electric machines and petroleum.

More than 9 thousand foreign officials and businessmen from 60 countries and regions have already arrived in Harbin. And the number is expected to rise when the expo opens on Tuesday.

(CRI June 15, 2004)