CHENGDU - The Western China International Fair (WCIF) will continue its commitment to serve as a platform for the outside world to discover China's western region as it prepares for its 12th event, fair organizers said Tuesday.

A total of 4,564 companies from 52 countries and regions have confirmed participation in the annual fair that is scheduled on October18-22 in Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan Province, according to the organizers.

Among the companies, nearly 2,000 are from abroad while 149 of them are Fortune 500 companies, the organizer said.

The fair has completed the work of soliciting exhibitors on an area of 120,000 square meters, which are divided into six halls covering electronic information, hi-technology, international cooperation, agriculture and equipment manufacturing.

The WCIF was first launched in 2000 to echo the central government's western development strategy.

It aims to bring together enterprises from home and abroad to attract investment to the west and promote cooperation and trade.