On May 29, the 20th Western China International Fair (WCIF) concluded. Various parties from the western region signed 416 investment cooperation projects with domestic and international investors, worth a combined investment amount of 354.3 billion yuan. All parties focused on demand points, highlighted characteristic and advantageous industries, strategic emerging industries, major infrastructure and key reform areas, and launched over 2,200 investment promotion and cooperation projects with a total investment exceeding 3.7 trillion yuan.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the WCIF and also the 25th anniversary of China's implementation of the strategy for large-scale development of China's western regions. Over the past 25 years, the WCIF has played a significant role as a vital window in promoting trade, investment and opening up in China's western regions, becoming a "shining brand" showcasing the development of western China to the world.

The WCIF serves as a lens on western China. Despite global trade volatility, China's western region has adeptly transformed challenges into opportunities. This year, the fair drew participation from over 3,000 enterprises across more than 60 countries and regions worldwide, hosting 49 investment, trade and cultural exchange activities.

"Unity fosters shared success and cooperation drives common progress." Today, western China is sowing higher quality seeds in development with greater confidence, ensuring they take firm root and flourish.

Opening Its Door Wider

A major highlight of this year's WCIF is the establishment of dual guest countries of honor for the first time—Laos and Hungary. The purpose is clear: to use the guest countries of honor as a bridge to further deepen and broaden international cooperation.

This year's WCIF marks its most internationally engaged edition to date—exhibitor participation grew significantly from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, with debut appearances from Latin American countries such as Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua. Three foreign dignitaries, 11 foreign ministerial-level officials, and representatives from 25 foreign embassies in China and foreign consulates in Sichuan and Chongqing attended the fair, while the number of national pavilions exceeded 20.

The over 20 national pavilions not only showcase an innovative exhibition format within the venue, but also serve as a microcosm of the deepening cooperation between western China and its partners in Central Europe and Southeast Asia countries.

With three years of successful operation, the China-Laos Railway has established Sichuan as China's premier distribution hub for imported durians and other Southeast Asian fruits. What were once considered "luxury fruits" have now become "affordable favorites".

Let us rewind the timeline further. Airbus chose Chengdu to establish its first "one-stop" aircraft service center outside Europe, serving global customers. PepsiCo opened its first northwest China production base in Xi'an Economic &Technological Development Zone, completing Xi'an's collection of both global beverage titans with Coca-Cola already present. Meanwhile, South Korea's Eco Prime anchored its China headquarters in Chongqing, investing in the construction of a biodiesel raw material pretreatment plant with an annual output of 200,000 tons.

Growing international engagement has accelerated western China's development at an unprecedented pace—from 2000 to 2024, the region's total economic output expanded more than 14-fold, with average annual growth rates outperforming the national benchmark.

New Industrial Momentum Exhibition Area Covering Over Half of Exhibition Space

Innovation carriers at this year's WCIF have reached new heights—the number of Fortune Global 500 enterprises participating has hit 61, a 74.3 percent increase from the previous edition.

More heavyweight enterprises bring higher-quality innovation. While walking between pavilions, reporters have a real feeling that nearly half of the products are related to technological innovation.

This year's WCIF focuses on serving the development of new-quality productive forces and modernized industrial systems. Following the logic of "industrial mapping + chain-leading enterprises + chain-affiliated enterprises", it centrally showcases the western region's advantageous industries and breakthrough achievements in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, new display technologies, and low-altitude economy.

The new industrial momentum exhibition area spans 120,000 square meters, occupying more than half of the total venue space.

The Mianyang Pavilion showcases a domestically developed rocket engine that has completed a 200-second full-power operation test. Meanwhile, the Sichuan Pavilion features an electric aircraft manufactured in Zigong, capable of carrying six passengers with a maximum 400-kilometer range. In the Zhejiang Pavilion, Hangzhou Rokid Technology Co., Ltd. displays its AR glasses on the booth—a versatile device functioning as a teleprompter, navigator and translator. Although these products have not yet been officially launched, online pre-sale bookings are already booming.

The new momentum exhibition area brings together 27 Fortune Global 500 powerhouses, such as CETC, CSGC, CATL and Huawei, presenting their hardcore technologies through on-site displays. Among the highlights are China's next-generation artificial sun "Huanliu-3", the world's first 4C ultra-fast-charging lithium-iron-phosphate battery, and a 21.5-inch holographic cabin for embodied AI terminals. These innovations have become a magnet for audiences and procurement delegations at home and abroad.

Beyond the exhibition pavilions, the western region has consistently pursued tech-led and innovation-driven development, continuously advancing greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology. This commitment has accelerated the growth of new quality productive forces, yielding breakthroughs in fields such as integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, quantum science and technology, and green energy. Notably, the region's installed capacity of renewable energy has now surpassed that of traditional fossil fuels.

The WCIF serves as an effective platform for countries worldwide to share development opportunities in western China.

Regional Collaboration Delivering Abundant Fruits

Through pragmatic innovation in regional cooperation and fruitful economic-trade collaboration, this year's WCIF demonstrates the magnetic appeal of western China.

Marking its first, this year's fair has established dual guest provinces of honor (Zhejiang Province and Qinghai Province). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a total of 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang and those in the western region, and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, have all formed delegations to attend the fair. Additionally, 17 provincial and ministerial-level leaders were in attendance.

Amid China's push to build a unified national market, the WCIF platform has further amplified a synergistic "clenched-to-fist" effect. During the event, WCIF centrally launched a curated portfolio of investment projects on its official website, offering targeted guidance for domestic and international investors. This year's WCIF has released more than 8,000 procurement information notices, with a signed procurement intention amounting to 14.55 billion yuan.

At the fair, the Sichuan Pavilion spotlighted 15 key industrial chains and exhibited a selection of innovative and representative physical achievements. The Sichuan Collaborative Development Pavilion demonstrated the province's dynamic regional integration, with the aim of promoting resource complementarity, industrial linkage, and regional collaboration across the province. The Regional Cooperation Pavilion thoroughly presented the western region's development progress, its collaborative achievements with eastern and central China, and emerging investment opportunities.

The success of regional cooperation shines through the numbers: At the 15th Western China International Sourcing Fair (WCISF), the United Nations Procurement Division, the United Nations Office for Project Services, and other units unveiled more than 3,500 procurement opportunities. The event attracted over 2,700 buyers and suppliers, generating over 1,300 matchmaking pairings. The WCISF's opening day yielded 50 trade orders signed, totaling 7.4 billion yuan.

The world pivots eastward, and China's gaze turns to its western region. At the juncture of history and the future, through the window of exhibitions, western China now displays to the world the diverse panorama of its opening up and development with quiet confidence.