The five-day fair, specializing in machinery, electronic products and minerals and chemicals, attracted more than 40 trade groups from the United States, Japan, South Korea, England, Russia and Italy, said Li Wancai, vice-mayor of Dalian.

Due to Dalian's geographic advantages, the fair has become a favourite of enterprises and traders from Japan and the Republic of Korea since it began in 1987.

More than 10 Japanese delegations attended the fair, Li said. The fair included a special international steel and chemicals exhibition to provide a trade platform for domestic steel and chemical giants such as the Taiyuan Iron and Steel Group and the China National Blue Star Corporation.

A section for machinery and electronic products rounded up exhibits including ship building, diesel locomotives, digital visual and audio products, bearings, refrigeration and harbour machinery.

To help exhibiting enterprises explore overseas markets, the fair will stage industrial forums and trade talks, said Hong Yuandong, assistant mayor of Dalian and the general co-ordinator of the fair.

Experts from Japan and Germany will give lectures to Chinese partners on business promotion in the world market.

Dalian also presented a series of special industrial parks during the fair to attract foreign investment, Hong said.

The parks are designed for the production of auto parts, semiconductors, optical communication equipment, pumps and machine tools.

(China Daily May 24, 2002)