Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province plans to create the largest platform for economic and technological exchanges with Northeast Asia.

An unprecedented number of businesspeople from home and abroad are expected to visit this year's China Harbin International Fair for Trade and Economic Cooperation (Harbin Fair), from June 15 to 19 in Heilongjiang's capital.

More than 10,000 businesspeople from abroad and 110,000 from China are waiting to make their presence felt at this year's fair, said a source with the organizing committee of the fair.

"We have invited leading transnational corporations and professional purchasers to participate or visit the fair," the source said.

The number of companies that has registered for the fair exceeds the capacity of the designated exhibition area - 76,000 square meters.

Companies from nearly 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have applied for exhibition booths and those from more than 50 countries and regions have confirmed their registration.

For the first time, this year's fair has invited the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a co-partner, paving the way for the participation of companies from Central Asian countries.

With its unique geographical location, sharing a 3,000-km border with Russia, Heilongjiang leads China's trade with that country. The province posted nearly 6.7 billion U.S. dollars of trade with Russia last year, one-fifth of the national total.

This year, more businesspeople from Russia and Northeast Asian countries intend to explore the Chinese market or seek partners at the fair, making it an ideal place for domestic companies that aim to tap the Russian market.

Business promotion as well as cultural activities will be this year's fair highlight, notably the Russia Business Day, Korea Business Day, British Investment and Trade Summit and an international forum on the history and culture of Harbin Jews.

Harbin accepted thousands of Jews who fled during World War II. They eventually contributed immensely to the city's subsequent prosperity.

(China Daily May 9, 2007)