The Fifth China International Expo for Mechanical and Electronic Products kicked off in Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei province, has attracted more than 7700 visitors from 34 countries and regions around the world including US, Germany, Holand, Japan and South Korea.

These businessmen are exhibiting their products, holding trade talks and making cross-border procurement here. A competition has begun among them for China's mid-west market.

The event is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, China Council for Promotion of International Trade, and the local government. It showcases and promotes advanced mechanical and electronic products made home and abroad.

As it is also the stage for another two events, the Wuhan Trade Talks and Wuhan International Auto and Auto Parts Exhibition, it has attracted wide attention from China and the rest of the world.

Among the 136 enterprises participating into the exhibition of mechanical and electronic products, 52 are on the list of the world's top 500, 12 more than last year.

36 multinationals, such as Siemens, General Motors, Citroen, Volkswagen, Carrefour, Itochu, have all brought their shopping lists here. Some giants in world's top 500 , like Wal-mart, Ikea, and Carrefour, even have plans to set up their procurement companies in Wuhan.

Government officials from Philippines, Nigeria, Egypt, Oman, and Zambia were personally present at the exhibition to show interest in the development of the central China.

Both the coverage and the number of exhibitors doubled this year, reaching 60,000 square meters and 107 respectively. 461 enterprises show their mechanical and electronic products in 1527 booths. And autos are expected to occupy 1300 booths.

By People's Daily Online