Chengdu New International Convention & Exposition Center. Chengdu has become a popular choice for many major conventions and exhibitions in western China. Photos Provided to China Daily

Chengdu, famous for spicy food, genteel teahouses and giant pandas, has a brand new attraction

Chengdu, the laidback home of the equally laidback giant pandas, is reaching out to the world, and the world is taking notice.

The inland city, the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China, is successfully turning itself into a world-renowned convention and exhibition center and thus an international metropolis, local officials say.

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The latest data show that Chengdu held 502 major events in 2013, including 104 international conventions and 53 international exhibitions. The number of international events increased by 43, a 38 percent increase from 2012.

The events generated direct revenue of 6.05 billion yuan ($1 billion), up 20.5 percent year-on-year. Indirect revenue reached 51 billion yuan.

The plan for the city's convention and exhibition industry is to hold more than 500 high-level events every year and to create more than 10 world-class convention and exhibition brands by 2015. Revenue from the industry is expected to reach 10 billion yuan by 2015 and generate indirect income of 80 billion yuan.

"The municipal government views the year 2013 as a breakthrough for Chengdu's exhibition and convention industry," says Mu Tao, director of the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Expositions.

The city held two top financial events last year - the 2013 Fortune Global Forum and the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention - making it the only city in the world to hold the two events in the same year.

Chengdu was the first city in central and western China to host the Fortune Global Forum. More than 600 business leaders from top companies around the world gathered to share opinions on new trends in the world's largest developing economy.

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