The Second Economic and Trade Fair for China's Northward Opening-up is held in Hohhot on Aug 20. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

The Second Economic and Trade Fair for China's Northward Opening-up took place on Aug 20 in Hohhot, the capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. It attracted nearly 300 distinguished guests from domestic and international spheres, converging to discuss cooperation and development.

The one-day fair featured various activities, including an opening ceremony, three parallel investment and trade events, and a plenary session of the 2024 Think Tank Forum on the Pioneer of National Northward Opening-up, which had four parallel forums.

The fair facilitated the signing of 128 projects, encompassing equipment manufacturing, new energy, new materials, bio-pharmaceuticals, digital economy and modern services.

A guest delivers a speech at the Second Economic and Trade Fair for China's Northward Opening-up. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

In his address, Wang Liping, director-general of the Department of Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, emphasized the ministry's threefold support for Inner Mongolia in creating new advantages for northward opening-up. First, leveraging bilateral economic and trade cooperation mechanisms to expand foreign cooperation channels; second, utilizing open platforms to develop industrial clusters; and third, capitalizing on geographical advantages to enhance infrastructure connectivity with neighboring countries.

Zhang Hongfu, director of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Department of Commerce, highlighted that the number of countries and regions trading with Inner Mongolia has increased from 164 in 2014 to 187, indicating a growing "circle of friends" in foreign trade.

A signing ceremony for 128 projects is held during the fair. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]