HEFEI, Sept. 26 -- A total of 718 projects with a combined investment of 369.2 billion yuan (about 52.48 billion U.S. dollars) were signed at the 2024 World Manufacturing Convention, according to a press conference on Thursday.

Among these, 679 are manufacturing projects with an investment of 327.3 billion yuan, accounting for 95 percent of the total projects and 89 percent of the overall investment.

The event, which concluded Monday in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province, boasted a total exhibition area of 20,000 square meters. It attracted 451 exhibitors and showcased 2,605 products, 236 of which made their debut.

For the first time, a large outdoor exhibition area was added, featuring intelligent connected new-energy vehicles, drones and humanoid robots.

Notably, this year's event marked the largest participation from countries and regions, as well as the highest number of foreign guests in its history, involving 41 countries and regions.