The 8th WCIF was co-sponsored by Ministry of Commerce, Office of Leading Group for of Western Region Development of State Council, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and the people's governments of Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Tibet, Yunan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia (provinces, autonomous regions and municipality) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps for the first time (in the mode of 7 + 13) and held in Chengdu, Sichuan between May 22 and 28, 2007.
Wu Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, sent a congratulation message. Zeng Peiyan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attended the fair and made an important speech on western development. CPPCC Vice Chairman Huang Mengfu, Macao SAR Chief Edmund Ho, former CPPCC Vice Chairman Song Jian participated in the event. Leaders of 21 provinces led delegation took part in the fair. Laos Vice Premier Somsavat Lengsavad, Nepal's former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba and 20-plus ministerial officials from foreign countries were present. The fair invited more than 40,000 businessmen from home and abroad, 37 domestic provincial (municipal and autonomous region) and sub-provincial municipal delegations and 48 economic and trade delegations to attend. The actual number of exhibitors, participants and visitors hit 350,000.
The fair set up two comprehensive halls themed countries & regions, regional cooperation and seven professional halls covering industrial manufacturing, hi-tech, tourism and culture, specialty agriculture and energy & chemical sectors etc. The exhibition area hit 91,300 square meters including 82% with special decoration, becoming the biggest fair in Western China. Totally 4,665 enterprises including 300-plus from 24 countries and regions attended the event with more than 45,000 pcs of exhibits. Of all exhibitors, 180 enterprises were National Top 500, 200-plus were National Famous Enterprises, 100-plus were national industrial leaders and 500-plus were various provincial famous enterprises. The UK, Brazil, Czech and Italy made their debut in WCIF.
The fair held 51 activities including various negotiations, promotions, matching meetings, economic and trade week, national day, cultural and sports exchanges, attracting 10,000+ businessmen from 60 countries and regions. Activities such as Western Development Seminar, International Forum on Chinese Famous Brand's Strategic Development, China-Southeastern Asia Entrepreneur Conference, China IPR Forum, The 11th Sino-Japan Friendship Conference, South Pacific Islands Investment and Trade Promotion, China East-West Private Economy Cooperation Negotiation, China Edible Fungus "Tiny Fungus, New Rural Area and Big Industry" Development Forum were sponsored by the country with deep involvement of ministries and commissions, improving the level of the fair. Western hosts held three special activities on hydropower, mineral and tourist resources, showcasing their advantageous industries and forging western tourist brands together through signing Cooperation Agreement on Western China's Tourist Areas. Meanwhile, some provinces and regions held special activities. Foreign institutions held six activities, namely, Germany Day, India Day, Sri Lanka Economy and Trade Day, Bangladesh Day, Pakistan Day and Korea Economy and Trade Day. In addition, more than 10 countries held various business promotion meetings, building good platforms for more cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises.
At the fair, 542 formal project contracts were signed, introducing capital equivalent to 55.729 billion yuan from eastern and central China as well as foreign countries; 157 fund input agreements were inked with amount equivalent to 24.34 billion yuan; 215 formal business contracts were concluded with amount equivalent to 18.78 billion yuan including 17.36 billion yuan for the contracts with eastern and central China as well as foreign countries; 275 business agreement were reached with amount equivalent to 13.26 billion yuan including 9.56 billion yuan for the contracts with eastern and central China as well as foreign countries.
