SHANGHAI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The third China Expo Forum for International Cooperation was held on Sunday in Shanghai, with a theme to promote exchange and cooperation in expo sector.

    More than 600 representatives from 17 countries and regions worldwide attended the opening ceremony on Sunday and will discuss influence of China's economic development on expo industry, opportunities brought by world expo and investment risk of expo firms during the three-day event.

    Xu Kuangdi, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged Chinese expo firms to establish management and supervision regulations for the industry, strengthen protection on intellectual property and enforce cooperation with domestic and overseas counterparts.

    The annually forum is jointly sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and Society of Independent Show Organizers.