Global media giants including Disney, Viacom and Star TV will have their presence felt at the first China International Animation Copyright Fair opening on Wednesday in the southern city of Dongguan.

The event, jointly organized by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and Guangdong provincial government, has attracted about 450 institutions and enterprises from both home and abroad, said Jin Delong, director of SARFT's department of publicity management, at Monday's press conference.

Some 1,200 exhibition booths would stand in the 30,000 square meters exhibition area and a cartoon and animation copyright transaction pavilion would be the highlight, said Jin.

China currently has more than 1,000 companies focused on anime products.

Nearly one third of all Barbie dolls were manufactured in Dongguan which is also a factory for Snoopy and Mickey Mouse products, said Wang Daoping, an official in charge of publicity in the southern city.

Jin said the fair, a top one in the country, would boost the protection of the copyright of animation works and promote trade and research with regards to animation products.

The city is planning to spend up to 40 million yuan (about US$5.8 million) next year in nurturing the potential market for original animation products and other toys.

About 400,000 people are expected to visit the fair which will last until January 3 next year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2009)