The China Baotou International Beef and Mutton Industry Convention won a gold award at the recently held 16th China Conference & Exhibition Industry Summit Forum, according to a report in the Inner Mongolia Daily.

The beef and mutton industry convention -- co-hosted by the Inner Mongolia Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Department and the people’s government of Baotou -- started in 2014 and has been successfully held for six consecutive years.

It is China's first industry event targeting the beef and mutton sector.

The first session of the industry convention got trade orders worth more than 1 billion yuan ($141 million).

The event covers production, processing, sales and processing equipment for the beef and mutton sector.

According to the organizers, Baotou city's abundant natural resources and its complete system for processing and manufacturing have created extremely favorable conditions for the development of organic agricultural and livestock products.

Its four major industries – vegetables, potatoes, meat and dairy ­– account for 70 percent of the agricultural and animal husbandry industry there. Officials say the conversion rate from conventional to organic agricultural and livestock products has reached 65 percent.

By hosting the beef and mutton industry convention, Baotou city aims to develop a domestic and international economic trading platform, display products and promote cooperation and exchanges to boost regional economic development.

The sixth China Baotou International Beef and Mutton Industry Convention concluded in Baotou city in July, attracting the participation of 340 exhibitors and 380 purchasing agents. The number of visitors hit 70,000.

The sales volume of beef and mutton, machinery and equipment and green agricultural and livestock products reached 4.8 million yuan. The cooperation agreement orders amounted to 3.3 billion yuan.