BEIJING -- The second China-Eurasia Expo, to be held September 1-5 in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, is expected to attract more than 5,000 international purchasers, Vice-Minister of Commerce Li Jinzao said Friday.

Nearly 21,000 domestic companies will also participate in the event, which will promote economic and cultural relations between China and central Asian nations, Li said at a press briefing in Beijing.

The vice-minister described the upcoming event as an important platform to push forward cooperation in trade, science and technology, transportation, culture, as well as tourism between Asia and Europe.

Ministerial-level forums, culture-promoting activities and trade promotions will be held during the expo, according to Li.

The first China-Eurasia Expo, held last September in Urumqi, secured trade and technical cooperation contracts worth about $130 billion. The expo was upgraded from the 19-year-old China Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair in 2010.