The first day of the APEC METC that opened Friday saw a large amount of turnover as international buyers converged on Qingdao.

    Nearly a hundred international buyers, including Jusco, Decathlon, Carrefour and Auchan are now at the fair.

    The international outsourcing conference has been invigorated through the participation of more than 1,000 domestic suppliers. Nearly 30 multinational buyers in attendance also include US-based Wal-Mart and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp whose booths are crowded with potential suppliers.

    "This is the first time we came here since our company started operation in 2006," said Detlef Plegge, general manager from ZF Commercial Vehicle Steering (Shandong) Co Ltd.

    "We want to look for employees and suppliers for our company, and I am pretty confident to get what I want at the fair," said Plegge.

    "I am interested in new building materials and automobiles, and I want to see what the Chinese can invent. We have already been working with some producers, and this time I want to find some new kinds of business," said Xavier Bariller from French-based HQC Trade & Consulting Group Co Ltd.

    According to the fair's statistics, European and US companies account for 85 percent of all buyers at the fair. Their purchasing wish list includes industrial, agricultural, seafood and hi-tech products.

    According to a survey of 207 suppliers conducted by the Qingdao multinational purchase promotion center, more than 53 percent of suppliers have received buying intentions from purchasers.

    The center made elaborate preparations for the fair, even faxing a training primer to suppliers and briefing them by telephone beforehand to ensure they meet the demands of large multinational purchasers. Some buyers say suppliers with samples and catalogs can help them identify products and get to negotiations as soon as possible, raising their efficiency.

    Foreign merchants have paid special attention to booths for machinery, environmental protection, energy saving, electrical products, food processing equipment and arts and crafts.

    For the convenience of customers, there are also areas set aside for international purchasing negotiation as well as pavilions housing electronic commerce, international logistics and famous international corporations.