Shanxi province in North China will host a conference on its transformation and development -- supported by its merchants and entrepreneurs from at home and abroad -- during the 12th Expo Central China, to be staged in the provincial capital of Taiyuan on May 21-23, according to a recent statement by the expo's organizing committee. 

With its theme of "New Opportunities, New Pattern and New Journey", the transformation and development conference will take place on May 22. It will consist of a meeting between provincial officials, a themed conference and four special events.

The themed conference will include an investment promotion, keynote speeches, a major project signing ceremony and a business matchmaking and negotiation activity. 

The four special events will provide a forum between academicians and experts -- as well as a symposium on high-quality and high-speed development, a matchmaking conference on investment and recruitment of top personnel and a founding conference for the Shanxi Alumni Association of the Central China Normal University.

Preparations for the event are reportedly going smoothly.