CHENGDU, Sept. 8 -- Contracts worth over 80 billion yuan (12.4 billion U.S. dollars) have been signed at an ongoing high-tech expo in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

During the 5th China Science and Technology City International High-tech Expo held from Thursday to Saturday in Mianyang city, a total of 117 contracts worth 88.689 billion yuan were signed, up by 25.5 percent compared to last year's event.

Companies from over 40 countries and regions joined the expo. Israelis the guest of honor at this year's expo.

On Thursday, China and Israel announced a plan to strengthen cooperation in ten major areas, including information, artificial intelligence and green cars.

The expo is an annual event jointly held by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Sichuan provincial government. The past four expos attracted a total of 56 countries and regions and witnessed the signing of 2,107 contracts worth 345.28 billion yuan.