Beijing, China— With less ceremony than previous editions, Miconex 2000—International Fair for Measurement, Instrumentation, and Automation—opened with renewed vigor here on Sept. 11 for a four-day run. This year's event was the largest overall of 11 Miconex shows, which began in Shanghai in 1983. More than 500 manufacturers and companies from 15 nations participated, occupying a display area of 20,000 m² (215,000 ft²) in Beijing's China International Exhibition Center. More than 100 exhibitors, consisting of international and "partner" companies, emphasized the show's global orientation. At the same time, some 400 Chinese companies indicated the host country's growing presence at the show. Recognizing the growth of China's economy and markets, co-organizers China Instrument and Control Society (CIS) and Messe Düsseldorf will take Miconex from its biennial format to an annual schedule, alternating between Shanghai and Beijing. Miconex 2001 will reconvene at Shanghai, Oct. 23-26, 2001.