The Chinese coastal city Ningbo is located in the densely populated Yangtze delta, south of Shanghai. The city with 5.6 million inhabitants is the center of the east-Chinese Province of Zhejiang. Ningbo can look back on more than a 7000-year history.

The city and its region have a high economic growth which is constantly going on. Here is China's largest deepwater port which is ranked in the fourth place among the largest ports in the world, if counting the transshipment volume.

The modern and prosperous international city Ningbo has obviously a yacht port and golf courses as well as great business centers and facilities with stately boulevards. Approximately 20 percent of all consumer goods and production goods are manufactured in Ningbo or the neighborhood areas.

Mr Li Xinhua (the picture) , Economic minister in the western Chinese fair-city talks about how the financial crisis has affected the fair.


- It is mainly expensive consumer goods that have been affected and in this year's fair, we see more of the products that the majority uses daily.

Many consumers have a negative attitude about China and Chinese products, what has been done to mitigate this?

- The main reason for the negative attitude is the lack of understanding and communication between foreign buyers and Chinese companies. So that is why the cooperation would be improved through better communication and understanding.

On the other hand, Chinese companies try to improve their product quality to meet the international criteria. Companies see opportunities to export high quality products to China, especially food items.

Do you think the financial crisis will have any impact on the Chinese middle-class interest in products of high quality?

- The fact is that when China opens further and the living standards are developed, people are more interested to enjoy life and get a good quality of life, particularly in regards to food items. People care more about quality, nutritional value and the safety of food as these factors have a direct impact on the health.

                                                                               Tony Harken