According to a dispatch from China, the two Liberian community leaders are attending the China Hardware Centre trade expo for mechanical electrical hardware based in Jiangyan City which is Jiangsu province. The fair started on 22-24 of April, 2008.

The Liberians said some of the major manufacturers have expressed their preparedness to visit  Liberia to conduct feasibility studies, following which they would make the final push to invest in the Liberian economy.

This year's Expo Central China in Jiangyan City in the Jaingsu Province attracted tens of thousands of business people both from home and abroad. The opening ceremony for the Expo central was attended by top executives of the Chinese government and business tycoons from Europe and other nations around the world.

Officials at the opening ceremony praised the six central provinces saying they enjoyed special advantages, both in natural resources and in science and education. They also said the central government attaches great importance to the development of the entire region.

“Our effort will bring job opportunities to all Liberians. As community leaders we are just trying to promote our country, which is coming from a bitter war experience for investment purposes,” Musa Konneh said and added that the Expo experience was rewarding for the Liberian delegation. He said a 21-gun salute through the canon was carried out to pay respect to thousands of foreign traders from all over the world, who are attending the event.

As the world's third-largest exporter, China plays host to more than 2000 trade shows each year. This year’s Expo ran on the theme, “Taking over the Industrial Shifting and Promoting the Rise of Central China" and it aims to highlight the region's particular characteristics, and set up a platform for communication and cooperation.

To promote the shifting of capital and industries to the central provinces, the Expo hopes to encourage more investment and trade exhibitions, and create more opportunities for entrepreneurs

The event showcased electrical and mechanical hardware, machineries and audio visual products including digital imaging products, electronic accessories, electronic manufacturing services (EMS), electronic parts, components and product technology, healthcare appliances, home appliances, home tech, lighting products, office automation & equipment, personal electronics, security products, telecommunication products, trade services and visual & sound.

China's foreign trade and overseas investment by domestic companies has continued to grow rapidly despite a congruent increase in trade conflicts, according to reports from the Chinese ministry of commerce said.

The country's foreign trade surpassed $2 trillion in 2007, a 23.5 percent increase over the previous year, making China the world's third largest trader. Overseas investment by Chinese companies in non-financial sectors increased 6.2 percent year-on-year to $18.7 billion last year, the report said.

The ministry on Monday released the report on the investment environment for China's major trade partners to help trade partners understand one another and relevant trade barriers. The ministry has released the report annually since 2003.

Despite the overall trade increase, "China still faces a stern situation in terms of trade conflicts", the report said. According to ministry statistics, more than 20 countries and regions launched 81 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese enterprises in 2007. These cases dealt with a total of $3.6 billion in capital, a 95.1 percent year-on-year increase.

As China's foreign trade rapidly develops, some governments and organizations have created various trade and investment barriers to protect their domestic industries and markets, and enterprises should pay attention to the changing situation, the report said.