Leaders of businesses in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, central Asia, and Europe are in the Chinese city of Urumqi for the 5th annual China-Eurasia Expo.

A slogan meaning "welcome the China-Eurasia Expo" is seen in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2016. The 5th China-Eurasia Expo will kick off in Urumqi on Sept. 20. (Xinhua/Wei Hai)

The scale of this year's expo has expanded from 2015 because it's the first gathering since the government designated Xinjiang a center of the proposed Silk Road economic belt.

Businesses participating in the expo are demonstrating a wide range of products including construction material and smart home appliances.

The expo has witnessed the signing of deals valued at about 900 billion yuan since the show began in 2011. Leaders at the expo's opening ceremony expect that that momentum will continue this year.