Trade Fair

said in a report.

A total of $190.5 billion went to bonds, up 86 percent from a year ago, and $64.1 billion to equities, up 43 percent.

The report attributed the significant growth in Chinese securities’ overseas holdings to China’s promising economic development prospects, prudent monetary policy, and highlevel opening up of the financial market.

A total of 2.63 million exhibits had been submitted by 25,000 enterprises registered for the 129th Session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, according to the China Foreign Trade Center (Group), the organizer of the event, on April 2.

The fair will take place online between April 15 and 24, following two virtual events in

June and October of last year. It is expected to attract purchasers from more than 220 countries and regions, Chu Shijia, an official with the organizer, said.

During the pandemic, the online fair will not only help domestic foreign trade enterprises receive more orders and expand market opportunities, but also inject momentum into the global economic recovery by contributing to the stability of the global industrial and supply chains,

Chu added.

Founded in 1957, the Canton Fair is seen as an important barometer of China’s foreign trade.

A total of 300 billion yuan ($45.75 billion) under a special loan program for innovation and research will be arranged for the next five years, the bank said, adding that 50 billion yuan ($7.62 billion) will be offered this year.

The special loan program will mainly be used for supporting fundamental research and original innovation to facilitate the implementation of strategic projects on science and technology, according to the bank.