On March 31, co-hosted by CCPIT and the People’s Government of Qianghai Province, the Promotion Conference of the 2009 China (Qinghai) Halal Food and Products Fair was held in Beijing.  Over 80 representatives from embassies, halal food companies and media participated in the conference.  Dr. Zhang Wei, Executive Director of the Organization Committee of the Fair and Vice Chairman of CCPIT, and Dr. Wan Lingjun, Deputy Governor of Qinghai Province, participated in the conference and made speeches.

Dr. Zhang Wei pointed out that the global financial crisis is becoming more serious, causing a sharp reduction of the international trade volume.  However, this crisis has not imposed a big impact on the international trade chain of halal food and products.  CCPIT successfully held the International Halal Food and Product Fair & China-Muslim Countries Business Cooperation Forum in Xining City of Qinghai Province respectively in November, 2007 and October, 2008.  During the two fairs, a number of Chinese and foreign companies participated in matchmaking meetings and reached business contracts with a total volume of over 400 million US dollars.  This year, the Organization Committee will invite high-quality investors and buyers to the Fair.

As mentioned in his speech, Dr. Wang Lingjun said that with the support of CCPIT, Qinghai Province has successfully held the Fair in 2007 and 2008.  More than 160 foreign exhibitors from 26 countries in Mid-East, South Asia and Central Asia, as well as 400 domestic companies, participated in the last two fairs.  The exhibitors not only showed great interests in the halal food and products in the exhibitions that reached 400 different types, but were also deeply impressed by the natural, non-polluted organic food resources in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This year, the Government of Qinghai Province will provide all the exhibitors and visitors with homelike services by improving the exhibition area construction and the exhibition service.

At the conference, Mr. Yang Xiaodong, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization Committee and Director General of CCPIT Media and Press Center, informed all the participants of the outcomes of the previous Halal Fair and features of the coming Fair.  Mr. Zhang Zhigang, Deputy Director of the State Ethic Affairs Commission, Mr. Sun Liansheng, Supervisor of the Board of Beijing Yueshengzhai Halal Food Co., Ltd. and Mr. Ender Oncu, Chief Counselor of Turkey spoke at the conference, offering their support to the realization of the Qinghai International Halal Food and Products Fair.

Mr. Yang Xiaodong briefed the preparation progress of the Halal Fair.  He emphasized that this year, the Halal Fair would aim to bring positive and practical results to the exhibitors home and abroad, focusing on the following three aspects: inviting foreign investors and professional buyers, attracting more Chinese and foreign companies with good reputation, and improving the exhibition services.

The representatives of the organizing committee answered questions from Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, International Business Daily, China Daily, China’s Foreign Trade and other media.