HANGZHOU, China, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The 15th West Lake International Expo successfully closed on the afternoon of Nov. 9, having achieved trade turnover of 15.7 billion yuan (approx. US$2.6 billion) and generated 15.2 billion yuan (approx. US$2.5 billion) in contracted domestic investment, as well as US$1.02 billion in foreign investment. The 29-day event featured 50 exhibition and fair programs. Over 8 million visitors from China nearly 50 other countries and regions around the world attended the expo.
This year's expo, with a focus on the promotion of commerce and trade as well as of science and technology, employed an innovative approach in staging events across four major segments: trade and technology, cultural experiences, tourism and leisure in addition to its series of traditional programs. The expo also successfully held a series of 17 events as part of the Economic and Technological Cooperation Conference. The 310,000-square meter expo, with 23.9 percent of the booths allocated to foreign exhibitors, attracted 120,000 professional visitors.
As a key program of this year's expo, the Economic and Technological Cooperation Conference brought more than 200 companies from more than 40 countries including France, Italy, Germany, Japan, India, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Slovakia and Malaysia together in Hangzhou, where 25 foreign investment contracts and 11 contracts that were either technology-based collaborations or locally funded deals were signed.
This year's expo consolidated a variety of resources while strengthening its cooperation and communications with overseas organizations, leading to a higher level of internationalization. In concert with the governments of several countries including the UK, South Africa, Spain, Portugal and the Philippines as well as foreign commerce agencies in China, including the Italy-China Association, the Japan External Trade Organization and the German Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, the expo attracted numerous companies and organizations from around the globe, enhancing its international renown and stature.
The 16th West Lake International Expo will be held from October to November in 2014.
