Jinjiang Footwear Expo to open

The 2013 Jinjiang Footwear International Exposition will take place from April 18 to 21 in South China's Fujian province.

The event is sponsored by the provincial government, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the China National Light Industry Council.

Held in Jinjiang city, the 50,000-square-meter trade show will host 1,700 exhibition booths, the most in its 15-year history.

Exhibits will include shoes and other footwear items, bags, and publications covering the sector.

The industry technology area, a highlight of this year's event, will show visitors the design process of new products from top brands.

Innovative materials on display will show how advanced technology makes products with better traction, comfort and safety.

Famed as the country's "footwear capital", Jinjiang is home to companies that make 20 percent of the sports shoes sold globally and supply 40 percent of the domestic market.