CHENGDU-- The 12th Western China International Fair opened Thursday in Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan Province, with contracts worth hundreds of billions of yuan inked on the first day and more investment deals expected to be signed.

A record 4,564 businesses from 52 countries and regions are attending the five-day event, including Siemens AG, Dell, and Bosch, said organizers.

Five hundred projects, involving 394.6 billion yuan ($61.8 billion) of investment, between China's western regions and enterprises from home and abroad were signed on the first day of the fair.

The projects focus on sectors like service, high-tech industry, equipment manufacturing, and infrastructure.

Overall, this year's fair is expected to attract 800 billion yuan in investment.

Having being held in Chengdu for 11 straight years, the fair is attended by nearly 70,000 officials and business people this year. Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, opened the event.