XIAMEN: More countries and regions than last year will send delegations to the 2005 China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), said the event organizer.

　　So far, 248 organizations from 72 countries and regions, including the United States, France, Hong Kong and Taiwan will join the annual business event in the port city of Xiamen, said Huang Heming, deputy director of the CIFIT Operational Department.

　　Famous firms such as Eastman Kodak and Ford will demonstrate their latest products and technology at the expo running from September 8 to 11 in the city in East China's Fujian Province.

　　Delegations from 64 countries and regions attended last year's fair, which attracted almost 12,000 visitors from abroad.

　　Huang said this year's event will boast "three new highlights". These are an ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Trade and Investment Exposition, a High-Profile Seminar on APEC Intellectual Property Protection and the first Cross-Straits Tourism Expo.

　　More than 30 tourism enterprises from Taiwan have booked 320 booths at the Tourism Expo, to try to tap into the huge number of potential tourists from the mainland.

　　Huang also revealed that Supachai Panitchpakdi, the newly appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will release a World Trade and Development Report during the fair.

　　Huang said there are more than 13,000 projects from the mainland seeking foreign cash, while 810 overseas projects from 66 countries hope to attract Chinese capital.

　　"The event will serve as a window for foreign capital to enter the mainland and a bridge for Chinese enterprises to go abroad," Huang said.

　　Enterprises in Xiamen expressed their interest in the fair.

　　Li Yong, president of the Overseas Operation of Xiamen Overseas Chinese Electronic Incorporation Ltd (XOCECO), said CIFIT is always at the top of the agenda for senior officials.

　　"All top managers will join the event, no matter how busy they are, since it can offer golden business opportunities. It provides a platform to meet both old friends and get to know more about the overseas market," Li said.