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The 7th China (Beijing) International High-tech Expo (CHITEC) concluded on May 26 in Beijing. The Expo was one of China's largest gatherings of international organizations committed to high-technology enterprises. Present were representatives of 82 foreign governments and high-tech institutions from 32 countries; business delegations; executives from many of the worlds  top 500 firms; and some of the globe s best-known financial, investment and securities entities. Also attending were numerous foreign ambassadors to China; more than 100 celebrities; eminent foreign and Chinese political figures; world-renowned economists; the mayors of many cities in China; and the presidents of several top universities.

Agreements were concluded concerning 252 projects worth US$3.96 billion. Of these, 231 concerned investment activities with contracted values of US$3.94 billion, mostly for new- and high-tech projects. The balance involved trade undertakings.

High-tech deals clinched at the Expo mainly involved electronics, information, pharmaceutical, environmental protection and new materials technologies, with trade values increasing from a proportion of 36 percent in 2003 to 58.4 per cent.

Provinces and cities other than Beijing accounted for 56.1 percent of the agreements made at the Expo, up from 50.9 per cent in 2003.

According to Zhou Maofei, president of the Beijing Council for the Promotion of International Trade, more than 100 exhibits, forums and trade fairs were staged during the six-day exposition, which attracted nearly 3,000 foreign government officials, business people, scientists and scholars, as well as more than 8,000 people from across the country, including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The Expo was attended by more than 2,100 high-tech companies and institutions from home and abroad, and welcomed about 300,000 visitors.

Compared to previous Expos, this one focused on:

Brand effect: Some of the most advanced high-tech products in the world were shown at the Expo, including an 80-inch PDP TV by Samsung, the largest TV in the world.

High-tech experience: Many intelligent and digital products with touch screens provided visitors with easy access to leading high-tech products.

Direct information platforms: The Expo played a more important role in providing a venue for direct-exchanges between governments and industries. Dozens of senior governmental officials presented their latest industrial policies and programmes at the Expo.

New concepts: The Expo focused more directly on current industrial trends and economic hot topics. Twenty-five forums and specialized meetings addressed microeconomic development trends, monetary policies, regional cooperation and sustainable development concepts.

A deeper regional cooperation: Delegations from 36 provinces and cities attended the Expo, and representatives engaged in trade talks seeking greater opportunities through international and regional cooperation.

Olympics economy: The 2008 Olympics Stadium Construction project promotion was viewed by at least 400 business leaders from home and abroad, such as United Carrier Air-Conditioning and OTIS.

Wide media participation: More than 1,200 journalists from 286 media centres zeroed in on the Expo, including 46 foreign media organizations.