The 2019 China Hai'an Investment and Trade Cooperation Fair was held on Nov 23 in Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, Jiangsu. It was attended by more than 500 representatives from China and abroad.

A total of 50 projects with over 30 billion yuan ($4.27 billion) in investment were signed at the fair, including 31 manufacturing projects, 14 foreign-funded projects, and five development zone projects.

The fair has become a gathering place for merchants from around China to interact and develop partnerships. 

Since the last session of the fair, 109 projects valued at over 100 million yuan each have begun being developed in Hai'an. The projects involve equipment manufacturing, electronic information, new building materials, rural tourism, modern logistics, and more.

Participants of the fair pose for a group photo at the China Hai'an Investment and Trade Cooperation Fair on Nov 23. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Harvey Dzodin, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, a think tank based in Beijing, and a former legal advisor in the Carter Administration, said that Hai'an has contributed to the Belt and Road Initiative and the international economy through its favorable location and industrial strength.

Hai'an ranked second among a total of 96 counties and districts throughout Jiangsu in terms of business environment, according to an official list published early this year.

"Hai'an's business environment and services have become more attractive to enterprises and a number of investors have built strong partnerships with Hai'an," said Gu Guobiao, secretary of Hai'an's Party committee.