A high-tech agriculture expo wrapped up Wednesday in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, registering some 18.8 billion yuan (US$2.3 billion) in total trade volume.

The figure includes 12.3 billion yuan (US$1.51 billion) in contractual projects and US$526 million overseas investment in the country, according to the organizing committee of the 12th China Yangling Expo on Agricultural High-Tech Products.

The five-day expo exhibited the latest agricultural hi-tech achievements and practical technologies concerning farming machinery, stock raising, and agricultural processing.

The expo attracted participants from 21 countries and regions, including Thailand, Japan, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

More than 1.2 million people including domestic farmers who hunger for effective agricultural skills visited the event.

Activities at the expo included international seminars, farmers' forums for the exchange of business experiences, and some 27 lectures offering technologies and consultation to farmers.

The expo, co-sponsored by 17 ministries including those in charge of China's science and technology, commerce, agriculture and education, aimed to provide technological support for agricultural development and guidance for farm product market and help farmers raise their income, the organizer said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2005)