China is to hold a trade fair for commodities from Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe in Beijing from Nov. 22 to 24, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

"The fair will feature about 200 booths with a total area of 5,000 square meters," said Wang Xinpei, the ministry's spokesman, at a regular press conference.

"The fair mainly aims to boost exchanges and cooperation between Chinese enterprises and those from Latin America as well as central and eastern Europe," Wang said.

"It will offer companies from Latin America as well as central and eastern Europe booths free of charge to display their traditional and excellent products and help them explore Chinese markets," he said.

By Sept. 15, the ministry had received participation applications from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Hungary, Croatia, Poland and many other countries, and 182 booths had been booked.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2007)