(26 june 2018) The Western China International Fair (WCIF), launched in 2000, serves as an important platform to promote the "Belt and Road" initiative, and has been recognised as an institutional event at the national level by the Chinese authorities. The previous 16 editions saw 54 foreign leaders, with exhibitors from a total of 1,005 countries and regions. The exhibition area totaled 1.8 million square meters, with a trading volume of 1.3 trillion RMB and a total investment volume of over 6 trillion RMB. Italy will be the guest of honour of the 17th edition "New era of China, New progress in Western China" in Chengdu from September 20th - 24th Italy will be the Guest of Honor of the event. This edition of WCIF will host contemporary exhibitions at: International Exhibition and Display Centre of Western China, the International Expo City, and Chengdu Century City International Convention, and Exhibition Centre, with a total exhibition area of 260,000 square meters.