The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time.
This year's edition of the fair, which ends on May 5, has attracted around 31,000 participating firms, up by nearly 900 over last year.
More than 200,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions have preregistered, with the lineup featuring the likes of retail giants Walmart and Target from the United States, Carrefour from France, Tesco and Kingfisher from Britain, and Germany's Metro.
The fair is divided into three phases: advanced manufacturing, home furnishings and products that promote a better quality of life.
It will involve 172 product zones, including, for the first time, a special zone for service robots focused on showcasing the latest achievements of China's AI development efforts.
"This Canton Fair is held in the year when China's '14th Five-Year Plan' nears completion – which is of great significance in promoting the innovative development of trade, thus ensuring stable foreign trade volume and improving foreign trade quality," said Zhang Sihong, deputy director of the China Foreign Trade Center.
He said the large gathering of global buyers at the fair underlined the trust of the international business community in made-in-China products.
The fair has always been an important driver of global trade, said Andre Rocha, president of the Federation of Industries of the State of Goias, Brazil.
Here, people can learn about the major global development trends and cutting-edge technologies, as well as solutions that can actually boost industrial development, he added. (Xinhua)
Canton Fair passes 30,000 landmark in a first
2025-04-15 HKT 18:01
