A news conference on the 20th West Lake International Expo Hangzhou is held in Shanghai on Sept 27. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, is set to host the 20th West Lake International Expo on Oct 20, according to a news conference held on Sept 27.

Hosted by the Hangzhou Municipal People's Government, the expo, which runs until Nov 3, will see over 28 themed exhibitions, forums and cultural events on various topics, including economic development, industrial upgrading and transformation, cultural and creative industries, the fashion industry and digital education.

Aiming to showcase the daily life of local people and the rapid development of the metropolitan city, an array of cultural events will also be staged during the two-week-long expo, including a wedding show, gourmet festival and a sports event.

A total of 33 projects worth of 10.65 billion yuan ($1.55 billion) in deals were inked at last year's edition, which attracted over 40 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Over the years, the international expo has developed into one of the most influential and competitive expos in China. It serves as a window for Hangzhou to raise its global profile and for people from around the world to learn more about the eastern Chinese city.

A world leisure forum is held at the 2017 West Lake International Expo in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]