Huang Xiaoxiang, deputy governor of Sichuan, told a specially- convened news briefing on Sunday that the forthcoming fair would highlight a main theme of West China and ASEAN seeking improved cooperation to realize a win-win deal.

"We will expand economic cooperation and trade with regions from the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Bohai Sea Rim domestically, and hope to promote trade and economic cooperation with countries in Southeast Asia on the international front," said Huang.

According to the deputy governor, the fair will have 45,000 sq m for exhibition, where 10 business halls have been erected, including one devoted to Southeast Asia. Sichuan Province will release a list of 1,000 projects for investment promotion at the fair.

The West China International Fair is an annual event jointly sponsored by the Sichuan provincial government, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.

A total of 220 business deals were struck at the fourth fair, which was delayed until September because of the SARS outbreak in parts of China earlier last year, with contracts worth 25.17 billion yuan (3.03 billion US dollars).

The first such fair was held in 2000.