China Ready for First PECC Trade, Investment Expo

TIANJIN, August 15 (Xinhua) -- Invitations have been sent out and preparations are in full swing for the first Trade and Investment Exposition of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), which will be hosted September 14-18 in this north China port city.

This was announced today after relevant officials ended a meeting on the exposition, to be held in the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce Jing Shuping, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng and Tianjin Mayor Li Shenglin were among those attending today's meeting.

According to sources at the preparatory committee, over 260 enterprises from 20 countries and regions will attend the exposition, which is hosted jointly by the PECC, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and the Tianjin Municipal People's Government.

Half of the 440 booths have been reserved for overseas companies, and some 12,000 business people are expected to attend the exposition, the sources said.

The exposition, with the theme "Environment and Housing in the 21st Century", will display new technologies and materials connected with environmental protection and house building.

The PECC is a non-governmental organization of scholars and experts from some 20 countries and regions, whose aim is to seek economic cooperation and development in the Pacific region.