An economic forum designed to strengthen links between the central plains and Chinese people living abroad will take place in Pingdingshan, Henan province, from Oct 15 to 17. The fifth Economic Cooperation Forum in the Central Plains for Overseas Chinese is intended to attract investment in new economic, high-tech and cultural projects.

The forum is organized by the State Council Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Henan provincial government. Its theme is "the construction of a central plains city cluster and the sustainable development of a resource-based city".

Song Liping, head of Henan's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, said 500 representatives of overseas Chinese — including entrepreneurs, specialists, scholars, and heads of institutions — have been invited.

"Participants will visit the airport harbor economic experimental district in Zhengzhou and exchange opinions about the prospect of developing freight links between Zhengzhou and Europe," he said.

Zhang Guowei, mayor of Pingdingshan, said, "Such an event is a good opportunity for Pingdingshan to expand its investment platform and improve its industrial structure."

More than 4,000 people attended the first four forums, and more than 200 contracts that have brought 168 million yuan ($27.2 million) of investment to the central plains were signed.