SHANGHAI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The 28th East China Fair held in Shanghai saw slight growth in export contracts although it was shortened from five to four days.

Nearly 4,000 Chinese companies reached export transactions worth 2.3 billion U.S. dollars in total during the annual fair, which closed on Sunday, according to organizers.

The exports of Chinese firms to Asia increased 14.3 percent from the fair last year to reach 1.5 billion dollars, accounting for 65 percent of the total transactions.

More than 22,000 overseas businessmen from 109 countries and regions attended the fair, which had an exhibition area of 123,600 square meters.