Opening ceremony of the 3rd Western China Ceramic Summit in Pingchuan district, Gansu, on Oct 9. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Pingchuan district's government and local companies inked 12 contracts worth 1.27 billion ($200 million) yuan at the 3rd Western China Ceramic Summit, on Oct 9.

The 3rd Western China Ceramic Summit kicked off in Pingchuan district, a prominent ceramics producer in Gansu province, on Oct 9. Experts and entrepreneurs from Guangdong, Jiangxi and Shangdong attended.

At the opening ceremony, provincial officials officially opened Gansu Ceramic Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center.

During the two-day summit, Pingchuan district held a forum on developing ceramics in western China under the Belt and Road Initiative, which refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Exhibitions of ceramics, painting and sculpture also took place.

Pingchuan district, located in Baiyin city, has rich clay deposits. A ceramics market was built in Pingchuan, in addition to the research center and ceramics studio already established. A new ceramics park is under construction.

According to Hu Jianping, director of Pingchuan district, the local government plans to develop architectural and sanitary ceramics and promote red stoneware.

Edited by Andrew Ancheta