SHENZHEN is gearing up for the 11th China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF), which will be held at the Convention and Exhibition Center from Nov. 16 to 21.

"This year is the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China as well as a crucial year in which the whole country is making a huge effort to cope with the international financial crisis, and the Central Government has set higher demands and bigger hopes for running the CHTF," Acting Mayor Wang Rong said in a conference Thursday (Oct 15).

The CHTF has been listed as one of five key exhibitions supported by the Central Government, which set the goal of building the fair into a world-class brand.

Wang said that all government agencies and organizations must be fully prepared in areas such as publicity, security, reception and epidemic control, in anticipation of the fair.

The largest technology show in China, this year's fair will feature six sections, including transactions of high technologies, high-tech products exhibitions, forums and a job fair for high-tech talent, with a total exhibition area of more than 100,000 square meters.

So far, 17 countries, including the United States, Russia and Germany, have registered to join the event.

More than 500 companies from home and abroad, including Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Siemens, Ericsson, Phillips and Sony, will participate in a wide range of high-tech product exhibitions.