Smart manufacturing looks set to be one of the hot topics of conversation at this year's Xiamen Industry Exposition from April 12-15.

This year's expo will focus on key themes of Made in China 2025, Internet Plus and new energy solutions, all of which incorporate smart manufacturing.

The trade fair's role of promoting innovation and technology-oriented industrial growth will be enhanced with the recent appointment of China Machinery Industry Federation as co-organizer, according to Wang Yueping, deputy director of the general office of Xiamen administration.

Xiamen has hosted the April expo since 1997, known then as the China Xiamen Machinery and Electronics Exhibition.

Demand for exhibition booths has been high this year and industry leaders in the manufacturing from home and abroad have been vying for a place at one of the 4,400 exhibition booths. Organizers extended the exhibition floor space to 100,000 square meters to accommodate exhibitors, which include Beijing Jingdiao Co, SAIC Motor and Boss Engineering, among others.

A number of trade shows will feature at the expo to promote industrial robots, manufacturing equipment, construction machinery, and photoelectric products.

One industry-specific exhibition planned will showcase advertising and printing techniques for the first time in the expo's history. The exhibition has prompted leading enterprises such as Hewlett-Packard, Shenzhen Absen Optoelectronic and Heidelberg Druckmaschinen AG to display their latest products and services during the event.

The long-running Cross-Straits Industry Cooperation Forum will for the first time include the Taiwan Federation of Industry on its organizing committee this year to improve cooperation between mainland and Taiwan enterprises.

To bring young talent from the mainland and Taiwan closer, the expo will set up an entrepreneurs contest in cooperation with incubator centers from more than 20 Chinese cities.