Expectations rise as EU-China fair opens its doors in Chengdu

A key EU-China business and technology fair aiming to promote deeper business ties - and seeking potential investment opportunities - opened its doors on Wednesday in Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan province.

The 12th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair in Chengdu, sponsored by the China Chamber of International Commerce and the Chengdu government, will be run until Oct 27.

The fair will then resume in Qingdao from Oct 29-31.

In line with the Belt and Road Initiative, organizers say the fair is an important platform for EU member states and China, to have an ever-closer relationship and more cooperation opportunities.

Driven by the growing trend of increasing transfers of industries and technologies globally, the fair has been successfully held 11 times, rapidly promoting relations between China and Europe and achieving concrete results.

Over the past decade it has attracted a total of 53 institutions and companies from the UK, France, Germany and other nations to invest in and construct projects in Chengdu.

Organizers said the fair had become a great platform for investment, trade and technology innovation cooperation exchange with EU members, enjoying extensive participation from European enterprises.

It has also promoted many government cooperation projects between China and Europe over the decade, deepening innovation in the sciences and technology, as well as technology exchanges. Organizers said one example highlighted the broader picture perfectly.

In July the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone signed an agreement with Brunel University and National Physical Laboratory, committed to strengthening cooperation between China and Britain in intelligent manufacturing and equipment intelligent upgrading.

Compared with previous EU-China cooperation fairs, the latest event has more participants and is more extensive, organizers believe.

Aside from Germany, France, Italy - and the other 25 European countries - South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and 11 other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative are joining in.

The event will stage various diverse activities and conferences.

The Belt and Road New Economy Development Forum - as the main forum this year - has attracted government officials from both sides.

Also attending are EU economic research experts, representatives from the China Chamber of International Commerce and a total of 500 people.

Among them are representatives from the European Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence in China, the first such center to be established in China.

Supported by the European Commission, the think tank aims to provide scientific and technological innovation services to the Chinese public and to private clients.

It also supports moves by European science, technology and innovation organizations to enter the Chinese market.

Organizers said another key event at the fair is the Roundtable Meeting of Chinese and European Business Associations Leaders.

It is committed to promoting exchanges between China and EU business associations, and building a pragmatic cooperation platform between the two sides.

The meeting will have a discussion on how business associations can improve their roles in better helping the needs of companies to internationalize and improve their global competitiveness.

The International Forum for Urban Traffic and Environment, a key part of the meeting, will discuss how to reduce traffic emissions and build environmentally friendly urban transportation, proposing technical solutions.

Organizers said that in total these activities were set to improve Chengdu's understanding of Europe and promote the sustainable development of the two sides in various fields - especially in industry, technology, tourism and culture.