Yantai has already attracted world attention for its remarkable economic growth and favourable business ambience. And now this city in East China's Shandong Province is all set to host a major China-Europe tourism forum.

　　The October 19-22 ASEM Forum and Exhibition on Tourism In vestment and Coopertion (ASETIC), which aims to strengthen Asia-Europe ties and help get investments for mutual prosperity, will be the largest tourism event on the mainland, a Yantai city government official said at a press conference in Hong Kong yesterday.

　　Asia-Europe Meeting or ASEM is an informal forum and will seize this opportunity to highlight the city's image and help attract trade and investment as part of its goal to invigorate inter-continental ties, Yantai Vice-Mayor Li Shuqin said.

　　"I'm very thankful that our city has been given the chance to host the significant event. The forum in October will encourage us to try all avenues to promote tourism trade and investment between Asia and Europe," she said. "I believe the event will serve as a bridge between China and other ASEM members."

　　The event will be hosted jointly by the Ministry of Commerce, National Administration of Tourism and Shandong Provincial People's Government.

　　Forums, exhibitions, investment, trade talks and cultural promotion tourism will be its main features.

　　ASETIC committee secretary Li Wei told reporters that the forum would focus on tourism development planning, sustainable development of the world's tourism industry, presentation of investment policies, environment, transnational mergers and acquisition and transfer of enterprise shares.

　　Rated as one of the most "attractive" cities in China, Yantai's GDP was 201.2 billion yuan in 2005, a 17.6 per cent year-on-year increase the largest among China's coastline cities.

　　Its foreign trade value last year was US$11.5 billion exports worth US$6.5 billion and imports, US$5 billion.

　　Located on the Bohai Sea's southern and Bohai Bay's eastern coasts, Yantai has Qingdao to its southwest and Weihai to its east, and has one of the most open ports on the mainland.

　　Its unique geographic location makes its soil perfect for growing apples and grapes. In fact, the Yantai apple and Changyu red wine are household names not only in China, but in the whole of Southeast Asia.