The 6th WCIF was co-sponsored by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and the People's Government of Sichuan Province, themed "Foreign Investment to Western China, Domestic Investment to Western China, East-West Cooperation for Win-Win Purpose“, and held in Chengdu, Sichuan from May 25-28, 2005.
Xu Jialu, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Li Meng and Zhang Huaixi, vice chairmen of the CPPCC, leaders of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives were present at the opening ceremony and visited the exhibition. A total of 14 deputy minister-level officials such as Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and Deputy Prime Minister Pinit Jarusombat, Laos Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Vietnam's Deputy Trade Minister Tran Duc Minh, David Bill, Leicester County Council of the UK, lieutenant governor of Friesland, the Netherlands, and other vice-minister level foreign dignitaries, and 18 senior diplomacy, economic and trade officials, including ambassadors, commercial counsellor and consul general of nine countries such as France, South Korea, Georgia and Israel, more than 2,000 celebrities of industry and commerce such as Hashim, president of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Robert Kapp, former president of United States-China Business Council attended the WCIF. More than 2,000 foreign businesspersons from 45 countries and regions attended the fair. A total of 24 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, 21 cities and prefectures sent their delegations to the fair, with more than 15,000 representatives. It also attracted more than 150,000 visitors, including 100,000 professional visitors.
The amount of on-site transactions and trade contracts reached 11.13 billion yuan. A total of 198 investment project agreements were signed, total contracted amount reaching 23.067 billion yuan; of that, 137 involved investment from outside of the province, total investment amounting 19.532 billion yuan, introducing 19.065 billion yuan from outside of the province.
The exhibition was divided into one international hall and seven professional halls, total area reaching 60,000 square meters; of that over 85% booths were special decorated open booths. More than 2,000 enterprises attended the fair; of that more than 10 were Fortune 500 enterprises; and more than 1,000 famous enterprises home and abroad, exhibiting more than 30,000 products. The exhibition was further improved in terms of the specialization, layout and booth design.
At the WCIF, seven international economic and trade programs and six inter-province economic and trade programs were successfully held. Of that, the four country theme programs were highlights, namely Sichuan-Korea Friendship Cooperation Week, Thailand Day, France Day and India Day. The cities and prefectures of Sichuan also held investment promotion meetings with thick local colors. The Western Convention & Exhibition Economic Development Forum, CEPA Hong Kong Day Forum and other professional forums were also productive.
