ZHENGZHOU -- The seventh China Henan International investment trade fair will open on Thursday in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, according to an official with the provincial government.

The event, which will end on Sunday, is expected to attract over 160 enterprises, with some among the global top 500, and 3,600 visitors, said Zhao Jiancai, vice-governor of the province.

Zhao said he expects about 415 cooperation contracts to be signed during the trade fair, with a total value of 250 billion yuan ($39.7 billion).

Seventy-eight multinationals -- including Dell, Citibank, Pepsi, Walmart, and UPS -- have confirmed they will attend.

The trade fair, a biennial event, is co-hosted by the Henan provincial government, and state bodies including the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the State Administration of Grain.