The First Northeast Asia and Bohai-Rim International Business Festival opened Wednesday in Langfang City of north China's Hebei Province, said sources with the organizing committee of the festival.

The festival, scheduled from May 18-21, is meant to further promote regional cooperation in Northeast Asia and Bohai Bay-rim areas, with theme on "harmonious cooperation and mutual development", the source said.

The business festival is co-sponsored by the All-China Federation of Commerce and Industry, Bo'ao Forum for Asia, the China Enterprise Association and the related provinces and municipalities in the Bohai Sea rim region.

Three forums, seven trade fairs and six trade expos are expected to be held during the business festival. And about 3,000 enterprises from 30 countries and regions have come to attend the festival.

The Bohai Bay-rim region is located between northeast, north and east China which is also adjacent to Japan and the Republic of Korea. An agreement was reached in August 2004 to step up economic and trade cooperation in northeast Asia and Bohai Bay-rim areas.

Source: Xinhua