SIAL China, one of Asia's largest food and beverage innovation exhibitions, will be held in Shanghai from May 18 to 20, the organizer said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The expo will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center and have an exhibition area of 180,000 square meters. Around 4,500 exhibitors will showcase 300,000 products at the event, which will be divided into seven themed exhibitions covering green agriculture, functional food, snacks and condiments.

Apart from Chinese exhibitors, companies and trade missions from 33 countries and regions, including Argentina, Brazil and the European Union, will participate in the expo. The EU will be the guest of honor for this year's expo.

Forums on retail innovation, supply chains and nutritional foods, as well as an investment summit will be held during the expo. More than 120,000 professional visitors are expected to attend, according to the organizer Comexposium-SIAL Exhibition Co Ltd.