TIANJIN — The 101st China Food & Drinks Fair (FDF) opened on Oct 24 in North China's Tianjin municipality, attracting some 2,600 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions.

The three-day event is expected to receive 150,000 visitors.

This year's FDF covers an exhibition area of nearly 120,000 square meters, which consists of six major sections displaying traditional Chinese liquor, wine and overseas liquor, food and beverages, seasonings and spices, food machinery as well as packaging.

Promotional activities and commercial talks will be held in a special area first set up at the fair to provide business opportunities for enterprises from poverty-stricken areas in the country, thus benefiting local farmers.

Tianjin has shown its economic appeal to global investors with its strong modern service industry, said Yu Zuojiang, deputy general manager of COFCO Sugar, the specialized subsidiary of China's largest food trade company COFCO.

Launched in 1955, the FDF is regarded as the barometer of China's food and wine industry, and is held biannually in spring and autumn.