BEIJING: President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair. The 140th edition coincides with the 70th anniversary of the event, considered the country’s longest-running Trade Fair. The 140th Canton Fair is set to open in Guangzhou on Thursday. This year’s event puts a strong focus on new products, green technology and AI. CGTN’s He Jingyi is at the Fair with more.
HE JINGYI Guangzhou “I’m here at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, where the 140th Canton Fair will officially open tomorrow. This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the Canton Fair. As a barometer of China’s foreign trade, the Fair comes at a time when the latest third-quarter trade data are showing continued resilience and an improving trade structure. The exhibition halls aren’t open just yet, but you can already get a sense of the scale of the event here. This session covers more than one and a half million square meters, with around 32,000 companies taking part.
But perhaps the biggest highlight this year is what’s actually on display. New products make up more than 23% of the exhibits – a record high. And green products account for another 26%.
And technology is increasingly hard to miss. Around two-thirds of exhibitors have already integrated industrial internet or AI into their production.
And it’s not just about the products – it’s also about who they are being showcased to.
For the first time, the Canton Fair has also set up a buyer alliance, bringing together 58 major buyers from 32 countries and regions, including Fortune Global 500 companies and major retailers. The aim is to make those connections more targeted and more efficient.
And for many Chinese exporters, that reflects a broader shift – from simply selling products overseas to bringing technology, products and services together as they expand into global markets.
That is why this Canton Fair is being closely watched. It’s a place to secure orders, explore new markets, and see where China’s foreign trade is heading next.” –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
