A total of 241 business deals worthy of 132 billion yuan ($21.56 billion) were signed during the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, or known as WCEC for short, which was finished on Thursday in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

The number of deals outnumbers the 74 business deals signed during 2013 Fortune Global Forum that was also held in Chengdu in June, with the combined value surpassing 112 billion yuan.

Among the agreements closed at WCEC, 54 projects worthy 360 million yuan were signed as the convention drew a close, according to the city government agency in charge of attracting investment.

More than 10 overseas Chinese enterprises have signed agreements for combined 6.3 billion yuan investment in Jinjiang district, one of the most prosperous financial district in Chengdu on the Thursday morning.

Among them, Hang Seng Bank, the second largest listed bank in Hong Kong has invested 300 million yuan for establishing a branch in Chengdu. Yanlord Land Group, a famous real estate developer in Singapore, has invested 1.9 billion yuan for building a commercial complex which is designed to include resident communities, office buildings and a department store.

Duan Guangxun, financial director of Yan Land (Chengdu) Co Ltd said Jinjiang district has become a financial center, with 108 Fortune Global 500 companies, nearly half of the fortune global 500 companies drawn to Chengdu.

And the district will become a place full of potential for investment on real estate.

Carter Tseng, member of US delegates of Committee of 100, said the convention held by Chengdu is comparatively good no matter in scale or depth of the convention.

"In terms of the number of participants and the scale of the convention, and as well as the guest they have invited, this is really the largest and the best I have attended," said Tseng, who also participated in previous sessions.

Tseng said sub-forums held during the convention numbered about 17 or 18, and that is really a lot compared with the convention held in other places, and the discussion in each forum is in depth and the participants have provided valuable and constructive suggestions.

"No matter from the discussion of China's 'go-west' strategy or the government paper of developing Tianfu New District, the forum has helped overseas entrepreneurs understand Chinese policy more deeply, and that would make investors feel easy when they are going to invest in the western area of China," Tseng said.

Tseng said in terms of the culture environment and leisure, the host city Chengdu has provided a lot of way for guests to enjoy local life.

"Chengdu is a place of histories, by coming here, we (overseas Chinese) can understand our ancestors' culture more in depth by visiting historical sites such as Dufu's museum and Wuhou Memorial Temple, and it is also the hometown of panda, which makes Chengdu a unique place to see this rare animals," Tseng said.

Chen Qian, vice-chairman of Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in the UK, said he was surprised at the direct flight from Chengdu to London that was launched this September.

"I'm very impressed with the rapid development Chengdu has presented to the world. The convention has also arranged within the consideration of every detail. This is the first time I participated in the convention, but the service they provide and the hospitality Chengdu people have presented make me feel as comfortable as home," Chen said.

Chen said currently they are applying to make London become the host city of the convention in 2017, and Chengdu has given him such an unforgettable memory that he would like to come again.

Peng Chao contributed to the story.

liaoxue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 09/27/2013 page18)