CHANGSHA - The 7th Central China Expo, an important event for contract-signing and investment in China's central regions, started Friday in Changsha, capital of Hunan province.

More than 30,000 businessmen from 73 countries and regions, including business executives of Carrefour, Citibank, Messer, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, are attending the three-day event.

The expo aims to boost foreign and domestic investment in the central regions, which China has planned to build into favorable destinations for industrial transfers from coastal regions, at a time of economic slowdown.

Vice Premier Wang Qishan, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, and Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico were present at the expo's opening ceremony.

China revealed "The rise of central China" strategy in 2004, following similar strategies for the west and northwest of the country, amid efforts to achieve more balanced development in different regions.

The six central provinces of Shanxi, Anhui, Henan, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei are home to one-fourth of China's population and account for one-fifth of the country's economic output.