BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) — China’s Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday the 5th International Retailers’ Global Sourcing Fair will be held in Nanjing, capital city of eastern China’s Jiangsu Province, from July 11 to 13.

The three-day fair will have four exhibition halls, 2,100 booths, with the combined floor space totaling 48,000 square meters, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

A series of events will be held during the fair, including lectures, forums and trade talks, to promote cooperation between buyers and suppliers and to raise the competitiveness of domestic products, the statement said.

First held in 2002 and previously a biennial event, the fair will become an annual event from 2010.

The fair serves as an platform for big retailers and suppliers to negotiate and plays an active role in strengthening exchange and cooperation between foreign and Chinese companies, the ministry said.