The eighth Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) opened in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Thursday, and saw the signing of 212 contracts totaling over 150 billion yuan (about $22 billion).

Covering a total exhibition area of 150,000 square meters, this year's fair, running until Sunday, has attracted nearly 1,400 enterprises from 50 countries and regions. The UK serves as the guest country of honor.

The UK pavilion opened on the same day at the Chongqing International Expo Center, where 35 British companies showcased products and technologies in sectors including advanced manufacturing, sustainable agriculture and green infrastructure. They also brought representatives from companies including McLaren and HSBC.

HM Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong SAR, Lewis Neal, said, "the UK Pavilion reflects the depth of our current engagement and our ambition for future collaboration in Chongqing and beyond."

Peter Wilson CMG, British ambassador to China, said at the opening ceremony that "Chongqing has moved from being a center of heavy industry to becoming a dynamic hub for high-tech manufacturing, digital innovation, and modern services."

"It is now a gateway to western China, a driver of regional growth and an increasingly important node in global supply chains," said Wilson.

Wilson added that these developments align with the UK's own priorities. "We are focused on advanced manufacturing, digitalization, green growth, and innovation-led development. That alignment gives us a much better basis for cooperation."

At the opening ceremony, Chongqing released the Investment Opportunities List for the first time, featuring 277 projects worth nearly 580 billion yuan in areas ranging from modern manufacturing, scientific and technological innovation to inland opening up and urban modernization.

As one of western China's major platforms for opening up, WCIFIT has expanded its role over previous editions. The first seven editions of the fair produced more than 1,400 signed projects, with total investment exceeding 2 trillion yuan.

(Ran Zheng, Huxin Luo and Yingzhu Chen contributed to the story)