The curtain came down on the <a href=http://www.chtf.com/english/index.jsp>Fifth China Hi-Tech Fair</a> Friday, with total business deals amounting to almost US$13 billion, the highest since the fair was started in 1999.

A total of 1,392 contracts and agreements were signed and the total transactions represented a 5.57 percent increase over last year's fair.

Most business deals signed at the fair involved 1,282 high-tech and new projects with business deals of US$11.205 billion, accounting for 87.28 percent of the fair's total. Contracts signed totaled US$12.838 billion.

According to Wei Jianguo, China's deputy minister for commerce, this was the last fair to be held at the current venue. The next fair, which will run from Oct. 12 to 17, 2004, will be held at the Shenzhen International Exhibition Center, which is expected to be finished soon.

"We will actively support the annual fair and turn it into a real platform for industrialization of scientific research results, for starting business and investment, for export of high-tech products and for import of high and new technologies," Wei said at the closing ceremony.

Outstanding guests from home and abroad attending the fair included Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and Robert A. Mundell, known as the "Father of the Euro."

(Shenzhen Daily October 20, 2003)