Sichuan Economy and Trade Trends

Monthly, October 2016

Published by CCPIT Sichuan Council

Contents

Macro Economy

Sichuan Economy Grows Steadily with Multiple Indicators Higher than National Average in the First Eight Months

The added value of Sichuan’s above-scale industries has increased by 7.9% in the first eight months compared to the same period last year. The growth rate of August rises again after a fall, 0.1% higher than the first seven months, and 1.9% higher than the national average. In August, the added value rose by 8.7%, 2.4% higher than the national average, which hit a new record this year.

Enterprise revenue also had a lift. The accumulated profit of Sichuan’s above-scale industries reached to RMB 122.81 billion in the first seven months with a year-on-year growth of 7.2%. The profit achieved in July was RMB 17.26 billion with a year-on-year growth of 33.4%. Its growth rate was 21.2% higher than that of June, the highest in this year. In lateral view, accumulative growth rate of Sichuan's industrial profit was 0.3% higher than the national average, the first time above national average after a fall since last July.

The profit lift of industrial companies is mainly attributed to the price rebound and government support. In the "year of project", Sichuan's investment volume kept growing rapidly. In the first eight months, Sichuan's total social fixed-assets investment reached RMB 1,922.59 billion with a year-on-year growth of 11.6%. The fixed assets investment (excluding peasant households) attained to RMB 1,859.144 billion, increasing by 12.1%. Its growth rate was 4.0% higher than the national average.

In the first eight months the investment in Sichuan's extended projects accounted for 68.6% of the total investment of the whole year, 2% higher than the same period of the previous year. 113 new provincial key projects were commenced, with a rate of operation of 57.4%. A pile of projects like translational medicine, high-altitude cosmic ray observation station and national important scientific and technological infrastructures had seen dramatic breakthroughs in early stage, laying a solid foundation for amplifying reasonable and effective investments in Sichuan and greatly mobilizing the increase of fixed-assets investment by 12.1%, which was 4% higher than the national average.

Over the first eight months, the gross retail sales of social consumer goods have grown to RMB 982.92 billion with a year-on-year growth of 11.5%, which is 1.2% higher than the national average. The gross retail sales of social consumer goods of August were 0.1% higher than July. (September 28^th, Sichuan Daily/Dong Shimei)

In the First Three Quarters, Revenue of Sichuan's Ecotourism Increased by 15%

In the first three quarters, Sichuan had received 190 million ecotourism visitors and achieved direct revenue of RMB 58.55 billion, a 15% rise year-on-year. The growth rate was the highest over the recent three years.

Among the four pillars of ecotourism, rural ecotourism is the champion. In the first nine months, Sichuan's rural scenic areas had received 140 million ecotourism visitors and achieved direct revenue of over RMB 41.53 billion, followed by natural scenic areas which achieved gross revenue of RMB 9.18 billion. In respect to forest parks and wetland parks, the two types of scenic areas achieved direct revenues of RMB 5.5 billion and RMB 2.34 billion respectively. (October 18^th, Sichuan Daily/Wang Chengdong)

Foreign Trade

Number of Chengdu's International (Regional) Air Routes will Increase to 98

The Chengdu Municipal People's Government and Sichuan Province Airport Group concluded cooperative agreements with six domestic and overseas airlines at the 22^nd World Route Development Forum on the afternoon of September 25^th, announcing to open eight regular direct international routes and one chartered plane to regular direct international route. Presently, the number of Chengdu's international (regional) air routes will increase to 98.

Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee Wang Dongming, deputy secretary of Sichuan Provincial Party Committee and governor of Sichuan Province Yin Li, the sponsor of the 22^nd World Route Development Forum and CEO of UBM Simon Foster attended the signing ceremony. Vice governor of Sichuan Province Yang Hongbo introduced the newly opened routes at the meeting

At the signing ceremony, the Chengdu Municipal People's Government and Sichuan Province Airport Group signed the Cooperative Agreement on Opening Chengdu-Sydney Regular Direct Flight with Air China, Cooperative Agreement on Opening Chengdu-New York Regular Direct Flight and Cooperative Agreement on Opening Chengdu-Los Angeles Regular Direct Flight with Hainan Airlines, Cooperative Agreement on Opening Chengdu-Madrid Regular Direct Flight with Capital Airlines, MoU on Opening Chengdu-Sochi Regular Direct Flight with Tibet Airlines, MoU on Opening Chengdu-Addis Ababa Regular Direct Flight with Ethiopian Airlines and reached the Cooperative Agreement on Opening Chengdu-Dubai Regular Direct Flight, Cooperative Agreement on Opening Chengdu-Moscow Chartered Flight to Regular Direct Flight and MoU on Opening Chengdu-Auckland Regular Direct Flight with Sichuan Airlines. (September 26^th, Sichuan Daily/Jiang Junfang and Wang Meiling)

Key Projects

Pre-Feasibility Study on the Most Difficult Section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be Completed by the End of this Month and Started in 2018

The pre-feasibility study on Kangding (Xinduqiao) – Nyingchi Section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be finished by the end of this month. This section is the last section of the whole line. It is also the longest and the most difficult section. It has been listed into the 2018 Construction Plan by the National Development and Reform Commission with a construction period of seven and a half years.

As a national key project, Sichuan-Tibet Railway starts from Chengdu of Sichuan, further through Ya'an and Kangding, crossing the Jinsha River in Gangtuo to Tibet Autonomous Region and finally to Lhasa City after passing through Changdu, Nyingchi and Shannan. The whole line runs a distance of 1,838 km, including the newly built main line of 1,738 km. It is estimated that about RMB 216.6 billion will be invested in the project. With a design speed of 200 km/h and limited speed of 160 km/h in some sections, the whole journey will take only about 13 hours from Chengdu to Lhasa. By then, Tibet will be included into the Yangtze River Economic Belt, becoming a convenient and fast land way from China to South Asia.

The construction of the whole line was divided into four parts. The first part, Chengdu-Ya'an Section, was commenced in the end of 2014, the second part, Lhasa-Nyingchi Section, was commenced in June, 2015 and the third part, Ya'an-Kangding (Xinduqiao), finished the editing and revising of feasibility study in February 2016. (October 16^th, Sichuan Daily/Wang Meiling)

Industries

Sichuan Scientific Collaborative Innovation Promoting Association was Established

Last year, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, Sichuan's famous colleges and universities, research institutes, companies and service organizations jointly promoted the formation of Sichuan Scientific Collaborative Innovation Promoting Association and widely cooperated with governments, enterprises, colleges, scientific research and service organizations to collect sci-tech innovation resources and establish a "government-industry-school-institute-application" integrated new-type public service platform.

All together 20 experts and scholars from 99 listed companies and leading enterprises including Haite Group and Jinxing Group as well as 29 research institutes and Jinan University became the first full members of the Association. The business scope of corporate members has covered seven strategic emerging industries. Next, the Promoting Association will organize experts to Deyang, Suining and Ya'an for sci-tech innovation activities to expand its service coverage.

Standing committee member of the CPPCC and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Shi Bi was elected president of the 1^st Association at the ceremony. (October 3^rd, Sichuan Daily/Guo Jingwen and Li Longjun)

The Western Geographic Information Technology Industrial Park Project was Set in Chengdu

The Western Geographic Information Technology Industrial Park Project Phase II was started in Chengdu.

By cultivating innovative enterprises, the Industrial Park will provide industrial development fund to guide industrial investment as well as finance, taxation, investment and financing and strengthen the supporting efforts on companies. More focus will be given to introduce chip manufacturers and high-end instruments manufacturers in the upstream of industrial chain as well as affiliated companies like software development and application service companies in downstream. By 2020, the Industrial Park will fuse 1:10000 basic geographic information data, geography and national conditions survey and monitoring data, satellite navigation and location service data and aerospace remote sensing image data as well as geographic space big data and cloud computing systems to form a "sky-earth" integrated western geographic space big data production mode. The Industrial Park will achieve a production value of RMB 50 billion, drive the output value of affiliated industries up to over RMB 300 billion, vigorously promote the upgrading of local industries and urban construction and build the "Western Intelligence Valley" of China's geographic information industry.

The Western Geographic Information Technology Industrial Park jointly established by the Sichuan Bureau of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation and the government of Jinniu District of Chengdu covers an area of over 33 ha. and its building area is 700,000 m². Up to now, there are nearly a hundred geographic information enterprises have competed to sign the agreement of setting branch offices in the Industrial Park. (October 7^th, Sichuan Daily/Hao Yong)

Private Equity Fund Industry Association of Tianfu New Area was Set up

Chengdu Tianfu Newly-Developing Financial Summit and Founding Conference of Private Equity Fund Industry Association were conducted in the Tianfu International Fund Town of Chengdu on October 18^th. The Private Equity Fund Industry Association of Tianfu New Area was announced to be set up at the Conference.

Equity fund industry has become an important force to promote financial innovation development of Chengdu. Presently, 635 equity fund management companies and funds have registered in the Asset Management Association of China, with a fund size of about RMB 37.8 billion. The sums of both Chengdu's A-share listed companies and companies listed on the new three boards have topped the central and western parts of China. (October 19^th, Sichuan Daily/Wu Xiaotong)

Convention & Exhibition Economy

The First Sichuan International E-Commerce Expo in 2016

Kicked off

The First Sichuan International E-Commerce Expo in 2016 with the theme of "Gathering Networks in Tianfu and Linking Businesses to the World" was kicked off in the Chengdu International Trade City on September 29^th. Rural e-commerce companies from 21 cities and prefectures as well as their development achievements were displayed at the Expo. E-commerce O2O integration and docking platforms were set up. Zhang Yudong, vice chairman of Sichuan Provincial CPPCC, attended the Expo.

Sichuan brands and commodities became the bright spots of this Expo. Many famous e-commerce companies like Luzhou Laojiao, Jiannanchun, zyctd.com and TYFO.com appeared at the Expo. 47 kinds of Sichuan local special products like truffle, snow chrysanthemum, Wumeng tribute rice and Tibetan tea were showcased one by one. The Expo not only openeda door for e-commerce but also provided convenient and fast purchase channels for customers.

A series of e-commerce special activities including the 2^nd Western Network Businessmen Development Summit, the Sichuan Provincial Higher Education Internet Plus Industry Development Forum, the Sichuan Cooperation Assembly for E-Commerce, Schools and Enterprises, the Sichuan E-Commerce Online Celebrities Contest and E-Businessmen Carnival were conducted during the exhibition. Senior management from famous e-commerce companies at home and abroad came to Chengdu to share their successful experience, discuss the development tendency and give advices and suggestions for e-commerce companies. (September 30^th, Sichuan Daily/Liu Jia)

2016 China (Sichuan) E-Commerce Development Summit Kicked off

2016 China (Sichuan) E-Commerce Development Summit with the theme of "Innovation, Integration and Win-Win" was inaugurated in Mianyang on October 13^th. Deputy secretary of Sichuan Provincial Committee and governor of Sichuan Province Yin Li attended the opening ceremony and delivered an address.

E-Commerce Investment Attracting Conference, World Internet Sichuan Elites Round-Table Meeting, E-Commerce Summit, E-Commerce Innovation Forum, Cross-Border E-Commerce Competition and Opportunity Forum as well as other activities were also conducted. More than 300 famous e-commerce platforms at home and abroad and over 1,000 trade circulation enterprises came for the summit. Ten thousand kinds of commodities were showcased at that time. In addition, the E-Commerce Contest, with the theme of "e-commerce entrepreneurship", was carried out to stimulate college students, youth entrepreneurs and technical talents' interests and potential.

In these three days, e-commerce tycoons and industry leaders gathered here and held a discussion, aiming to find the way of making a breakthrough in traditional industries and e-commerce industry in the new situation. In addition, remarkable achievements were made at the Summit. Participants contributed to the conclusion of agreements for 51 e-commerce projects with a total contract amount up to RMB 18.5 billion, which was another new record.

For Mianyang, this Summit is more profound with far-reaching influence. Some viewpoints put forward at the last e-commerce summit have become a reality. Mianyang's internet economy represented by e-commerce grows fast. Presently, there are over 3,000 e-commerce companies and more than 500 professional service companies in Mianyang. Mianyang's e-commerce turnover topped RMB 220 billion last year, with a growth of 47%. In the first eight months of this year, Mianyang still held the second position in Sichuan Province and ranked top among all prefecture cities in Western China with the e-commerce turnover reached RMB 171.8 billion. (September 13^th, Sichuan Daily/Zhao Rongmei and Liu Xing)

The Chengdu New Finance Summit in 2016 was Held in Chengdu

The Chengdu New Finance Summit in 2016, with the theme of "new finance, asset securitization and risk control", was sponsored by the Chengdu Municipal People's Government in Chengdu on October 15^th. Experts from national ministries and commissions, famous central enterprises, financing institutions at home and abroad and institutions of higher education, entrepreneurs and financers came to attend the Summit. The Chengdu Financial Assets Trading Center was officially listed and established on that day.

Seven important guests from the State Council Research Office, Research Bureau of People's Bank of China, China Economy Academe, Tongji University, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics and China Bond Rating Co., Ltd. gave keynote speeches, by which they shared the methods to promote assets securitization and support supply-side reform based on an orderly developing financial market, exploring an innovative mode to turn finance into substantial economy service. They also offered valuable advices and suggestions for the construction of Chengdu's western financial center.

Chengdu is actively promoting the construction of the western financial center. Chengdu launched the "Three-Year Plan" of economic securitization since 2015 and achieved success. All important indicators including the number of listed companies and companies listed on the "new three boards" and direct finance amount of capital market have created the highest records.

By the end of September 2016, Chengdu ranked first in central and western China with its A-share listed companies totaled 66 in number and companies listed on the new three boards totaled 181. With an economic securitization ratio of 84.7%, Chengdu's total amount of social financing reached RMB 762 billion, including direct financing scale of RMB 352 billion. (October 16^th, Sichuan Daily/Ran Qianting)

The 4^th Sino- Central Asia Cooperation Forum Held in Chengdu

The 4^th Sino- Central Asia Cooperation Forum, with the theme of "jointly creating new-type silk road mode and developing multi-cooperation platform", sponsored by the Sichuan Provincial People's Government was held in Chengdu from October 18^th to 21^st. Over 300 Chinese and foreign guests attended the forum and discussed –extensively to promote practical cooperation and push forward the "Belt and Road" initiative.

TheSino- Central Asia Cooperation Forum is a national high-end cooperation platform for institutionalization communication between China and Central Asian Countries. The First Forum conducted in 2012 has become a springboard for developing friendship, enhancing mutual understanding and promoting cooperation. The “Five Countries in Central Asia” are important for China to implement the "Belt and Road" initiative. By holding the Forum in Chengdu, Sichuan can make Shanghai Cooperation Organization into full use to display its economic status in Western Chinaand itsdevelopment vitality and potential to other countries, enhance the communication and cooperation with Central Asian countries and better promote the construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. At the Forum, Sichuan Provincial People's Government also entered into cooperation agreements with the governments of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in order to jointly establish amicable relations, set up more colleges and universities and develop medical treatment and tourism industries.(October 18^th, Sichuan Daily/Liu Xing)

The 5^th Annual Conference of Western Returned Scholars Association Chinese Overseas-Educated Scholars Association and Returned Scholars' Summit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Chengdu) Kicked off

The 5^th Annual Conference of Western Returned Scholars Association Chinese Overseas-Educated Scholars Association and Returned Scholars' Summit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Chengdu) was sponsored by the Western Returned Scholars Association Chinese Overseas-Educated Scholars Association, the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee and the Sichuan Provincial People's Government in Chengdu on the morning of October 18^th.

After the opening ceremony, awarding ceremony, signing ceremony and keynote report conference were successively conducted. In the presence of the guests, the Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA) Returned Scholars' Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Chengdu, the WRSA Returned Scholars' Base in Mianyang and the A Thousand Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Center in Shuangliu (Sichuan) were successfully authorized. The WRSA signed strategic cooperation Agreement with the Sichuan Provincial People's Government. 21 cooperative projects were signed on the spot. Experts of the national "one thousand talents plan", president of Cloud Minds Huang Xiaoqing, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, vice chairman of the WRSA and chief scientist of Vimicro Deng Zhonghan delivered keynote speeches respectively.

With the theme of "overseas-educated scholars contributing to innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting transformation development", theme forums, overseas-educated talents sci-tech project exchange conference and visiting activities were carried out for four days. At the Summit, 53 cooperative projects were signed between representatives and relevant cities (prefectures) in Sichuan, contributing to a total investment of RMB 30.16 billion. Among the 53 projects, there are three primary industry projects with an investment volume of RMB 555 million, 25 secondary industry projects with an investment volume of RMB 11.405 billion and 25 tertiary industry projects with an investment volume of RMB 1.82 billion. Of the projects signed 33 projects are involved in Sichuan's competitive, strategic emerging, high-end growing and emerging straight-pilot service industries, contributing to an investment volume of RMB 13.76 billion, which accounts for 50% of the total contractamount. (October 19^th, Sichuan Daily/Zhang Lan)

CCPIT Sichuan Council

CCPIT Sichuan Council Signed Multilateral Cooperation Agreement with the State Government and Related Organizations of Victoria

Daniel Andrew, governor of the State of Victoria, leading a delegation visited Sichuan on the morning of September 23^rd, 2016. During their stay in Sichuan, a series of important meetings and activities were conducted. President Li Gang was invited to the luncheon held by the Chamber of Commerce Union for Andrew and delivered his address. He indicated that the import-export trade was developing fast in recent years with the joint efforts of Sichuan and Australia. Last year, the value of import and export reached about USD 923 million. This time, Andrew and his delegation will sign the friendly province and state agreement with our government, which will lay solid foundation for all-dimensional pragmatic cooperation. CCPIT Sichuan Council has listed the Sino-Australia cooperation task into the next "Five-Year Plan".

On the afternoon of September 23^rd, Yin Li, governor of Sichuan Province, signed Friendship Agreement with Andrew. President Li Gang also attended the signing ceremony of building friendship between Sichuan and Victoria and a series of cooperative agreements.

In order to enhance the relationship between Sichuan and Victoria and promote the pragmatic cooperation in all fields, Sichuan signed a series of agreements with relevant ministries of Victoria involving to strengthen the cooperation in the fields of economy, education, culture and health. In the presence of Andrew, Li Gang together with the Sichuan Provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Western China Branch of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce signed the multilateral cooperation agreements with the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Victorian Branch of the Australia China Business Council and the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Sichuan. This Agreement can not only promote the communication and interaction between commerce chambers in two regions but also greatly boost the bilateral enterprise cooperation.

Vice President Lv Led Sichuan Economic and Trade Delegation to Germany, Cezch and Italy to Carry Out Economic and Trade Activities

From September 12^th- 21^st, 2016, vice president of CCPIT Sichuan Council Lv Furong led the Sichuan economic and trade delegation composed of 12 auto parts companies went to Germany for the AUTOMECHANIKA 2016. In order to stimulate Chinese auto companies to develop European market and promote trade and investment, M&A and technical import, the "2016 Fair of Made in Sichuan and German Industry 4.0" and the "2016 China (Sichuan)-Italy Fair of Industrial Projects" were held in Germany and Italy respectively. During the fair, Lv also visited Germany and Italy's government organizations and relevant associations, Changhong Europe Electric in Cezch and Nymburk Industrial Park

With an exhibition area of 350,000 m², the AUTOMECHANIKA 2016 held during September 13^th and 17^th attracted 4,820 companies from 76 countries or regions for the exhibition. CCPIT Sichuan Councilfirst organized six Sichuan auto parts companies to showcase their products in an area of 60 m² at the expo. Altogether 210 professional travelling merchants were received and entered into intention cooperation agreements with relevant companies and organizations from Germany, Britain, Austria, America and Portugal, contributing to a total amount of on-site transaction and intentional agreement of EUR 365,000. In addition, Lv also visited the chief representative Hong Xiguo of the CCPIT Representative Office in Germany and talked with him on relevant works.

The 2016 Made in Sichuan and German Industry 4.0 Conference was held by the Schwaben Branch of the German Chamber of Commerce in Munich on September 14^th. Doctor Lintner, vice president of the Schwaben Branch of the German Chamber of Commerce, addressed the meeting. Lv specially introduced the development situation of Sichuan industry and key cooperation field. Representatives of 37 machinery manufacturing and auto parts companies from Germany talked with the Sichuan delegation. Yu Weiyi, consul of Chinese Consulate-General in Munich and Gaoyang business consul attended the Fair.

The 2016 China (Sichuan)-Italy Fair of Industrial Projects was held in the government building of Lombardia on September 19^th. Claudia Tez, minister of the Ministry of Energy and Environment Sustainable Development of Lombardia, attended the Fair and gave a speech. Secretary of the Secretariat of Italy's Lower House, member of the House of Representatives and honorary chairman of the China Communication Association in Lombardia David Capalini, chairman of the Lombardia Association of Automobile Industry Jempelo Mastilu and honorary chairman of the Lombardia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Francisco Betony introduced the development situation of local economy and industries. Lv also gave an introduction about Sichuan's economy and industries. 24 Italy companies introduced themselves and present their cooperation intentions to 12 of our companies. Bohong Group reached a cooperative agreement with Italian EVOLUT Company to work out an overall solution to realize robotic automation application in casting and machining and provide technical supports to 14 intelligent manufacturing projects of Bohong in the globe.

Secretary of the Secretariat of Italy's Lower House, member of the House of Representatives and honorary chairman of the China Communication Association in Lombardia David Capalini and honorary chairman of the Lombardia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Francisco Betony met Lv and her delegation. They reached preliminary cooperation intention on the two-way investment and technical cooperation in auto parts industry and introducing lemon deep processing project. Italian representatives will soon visit Ziyang and other cities of Sichuanto talk over the bilateral pragmatic cooperation.

Accompanied by chief representative of the CCPIT Representative Office in Italy Zhang Gang, Lv discussed the cooperation in auto parts industry, agricultural industry and exhibition field with vice chairman of Italy's Ruling Party and senator Ms. Latouwani, deputy director of Italy's National Television Station and chairman of the Italian News Alliance Mr. Francisco as well as chairman assistant of Roman Expo Bureau Mr. Philip in the Italian Senate on September 20^th. Ms. Latouwani showed a keen interest in the "Belt and Road" initiative, the opened Chengdu-Europe Express and the Hangzhou-Italy Express about to be opened, hoping to enhance the economic and trade relationship with Sichuan for close trade investment and technical cooperation. In addition, Mr. Armando, chairman of the Roman Expo Bureau organized Italian companies to carry out exchange with Sichuan COMPANIES. Seven Italian companies successively gave introductions on agricultural machinery, water treatment technology, agricultural products processing and food.

Armando will visit CCPIT Sichuan Council on September 27^th and deliberate over the details on further expanding the economic and trade cooperation platform between Sichuan and Italy. In addition, Zhang Gang will led Italian government and company delegation to Sichuan in November to get a thorough understanding about Sichuan machine manufacturing, agricultural products deep processing and tourism industries.

Five domestic media including Sichuan Daily were specially invited by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) to the AUTOMECHANIKA 2016 for propagandizing. As the only representative of Southwestern part, Sichuan Daily reported the situation of Sichuan exhibiters during the whole process.

CCPIT Sichuan Council Gave a Training on Renminbi Internationalization and Foreign Currency Risk Evasion

CCPIT Sichuan Council gave a special training themed by "Renminbi Internationalization and Foreign Currency Risk Evasion" in Chengdu on the afternoon of September 21^st, 2016. Over 70 companies, organizations and representatives from municipal and prefectural councils participated in the training.

Yang Haiyang, an economics professor from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics clearly interpreted the concept of Renminbi Internationalization in a very understandable way from four aspects which are background, advantages and disadvantages, progress and opportunities and challenges for companies. He advised companies to grasp the opportunity of Renminbi internationalization and use economics knowledge to effectively evade foreign trade operational risks, wisely speed holding funds and create more values.

Zong Xiaoli, president of Chengdu Xiaoli Business Consulting Co., Ltd., the first professional foreign currency risk consultative organization in China, deeply analyzed the real cases of foreign trade export and import companies buying and selling foreign exchanges. He emphasized that exchange rate risk could not be ignored, then introduced some effective methods to evade the risks and gave out some real examples for detailed analysis.

As expected, all participants indicated that the training was given at exactly the right time and very helpful to solve some problems in current foreign development. They would actively take part in all kinds of activities held by the CCPIT Sichuan Council.

Lv Furong Met Armando, Chairman of Roman Expo Bureau and His Accompany

Lv Furong, vice president of CCPIT Sichuan Council, met Armando, chairman of Roman Expo Bureau and his accompany on September 27^th, 2016.

Lv first introduced the economic and trade development plan of Sichuan, the bilateral cooperation situation as well as some activities held by the Council like CAPAS Chengdu and the China (Chengdu) Smart Industry International Expo to Armando, then carefully listened to Armando's introduction on some activities held by the Roman Expo Bureau on wisdom agriculture industry, automobile design, electrical equipment and food. Armando hoped to enhance cooperation with Sichuan.

Lv held in-depth discussion with Armando on relevant affairs like establishing mutual cooperative relationship in Roman Expo Bureau's wisdom agriculture theme activity and super auto show as well as China (Chengdu) Smart Industry International Expo and reached the consensus of signing a MoU.

CCPIT Sichuan Council went to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia to Conduct Economic and Trade Activities

An economic and trade delegation made of eight companies went to Thailand for the 2016 (Thailand) China Products Show and the 4^th China Sichuan Commodities (ASEAN) Expo and Economic and Trade Fair held at the same time from September 20^th to 29^th, 2016. The delegation held the 2016 Sino (Sichuan)-Thailand (Kele Province) Enterprises Fair and the 2016 Sino (Sichuan)-Singapore Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair in Kele Province and Singapore respectively. During the period, the delegation also visited relevant government organizations and chambers of commerce of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and Chuantai Industry Park (Suna Nail Industrial Area).

Gu Yulu (third on the right), director of the Foreign Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the P.R.China, is on tour of Sichuan booths.

With an exhibition area of over 8,000 m², the 2016 (Thailand) China Products Show held from September 22^nd to 24^th was established with 412 standard booths and appealed to 312 companies from different regions in China. The "Sichuan Commodities Exhibition Area" set in the venue covering an area of 160 m² received nearly 10,000 professional visitors during that period and contributed to a transaction and intention agreement amount totaled up to USD 253,000. With the support of the Kele Chamber of Commerce, CCPIT Sichuan Council sponsored the 2016 Sino (Sichuan)-Thailand (Kele Province) Enterprises Fair in Kele Province on September 26^th. Mr. Lowe Pylen, director of the Ministry of Commerce of Kele Province attended the fair and delivered a speech. Over 30 chambers of commerce, associations and companies from Kele Province talked over the cooperation with our companies.

During the stay in Thailand, our delegation also visited the Thailand Trade Institute (Thailand General Chamber of Commerce) and Sichuan Association in Thailand respectively. Mr. Bart, chairman of the Thailand Trade Institute (Thailand General Chamber of Commerce), was planned to visit CCPIT Sichuan Council in late October to arrange further cooperation matters in the CAPAS Chengdu and China (Chengdu) Smart Industry International Expo.

In Malaysia, the delegation also visited Lin Hengyi, vice chairman dakuk of Malaysia- China Chamber of Commerce and Wen Youzhi, director of MATRADE Chinese Office respectively. Cooperation intention on the CAPAS Chengdu 2017 was reached. Both leaders indicated that they would actively organize Malaysian professional auto parts purchasing delegations to Sichuan during the exhibition period for procurement negotiation.

Delegation visited Chen Hanwei, director of Singapore Business Federation and together attended the "Sino (Sichuan)-Singapore Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair". We gained a more particular knowledge of Singapore's investment environment and business opportunities by communicating with Singapore company representatives at the Fair.

CCPIT Sichuan Council Organized Companies to Kenya and South Africa to Carry out Economic and Trade Activities

CCPIT Sichuan Council organized eight companies to Nairobi for Kenya International Trade Fair and Made in China Exhibition in 2016 from October 1^st to 11^th, 2016 and carried out the 2016 China (Sichuan) - South Africa Business Seminar in Johannesburg.

The Kenya International Trade Fair which had been successfully held for 19 times, is the largest and the most influential comprehensive trade fair in Kenya, even in eastern and middle parts of Africa. The Kenya International Trade Fair in 2016 held from October 1^st to 9^th attracted nearly 1,000 companies from over 80 countries and regions. The Made in China Exhibition held in the same term appealed to 67 Chinese companies with a total exhibition area of 1,041 m². The Sichuan exhibition area was set with 10 booths in a space of 225 m². Under the leadership of CCPIT Sichuan Council, the eight companies showcased Sichuan's agricultural machinery, biotechnology, petroleum equipment and textile and chemical industry. During the exhibition, Sichuan exhibition area received 200 professional travelling merchants and achieved an amount of intention agreement up to USD 175,000.

With the collaboration of the China Federation of Commerce and Industry in South Africa, we held the 2016 China (Sichuan) - South Africa Business Seminar in Johannesburg. Chen Yiqiao, chairman of the China Federation of Commerce and Industry in South Africa attended the Seminar and delivered a speech. He gave a detailed introduction about South African investment policies and advantages, encouraged Sichuan companies to develop South African market as South Africa was the "bridgehead" of entire Africa. Over 10 South African companies had talks with themember companies of Chinese delegation, which had come a step closer to understanding African investment policies, environment and business opportunities.