Canton Fair officially opens in Guangzhou, marking record number of participants

Guangzhou (ANTARA) - The 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) opened on Wednesday (15/4) in Guangzhou, southern China, breaking the record for the number of participants with more than 32,000 companies. The number of exhibition zones has been increased to 179, including nine new sections covering wearable smart devices, display technology, consumer drones, modular homes, and garden facilities, according to the organisers. As of 9 April, 290 leading buyer companies have confirmed their participation, marking a 30 per cent year-on-year increase. China Foreign Trade Centre Director Zhu Yong stated that the new buyers mainly come from countries partnering in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with significant growth from Latin America and Africa. In line with the trade-investment integration goals set in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the Canton Fair will build a full-cycle trade promotion ecosystem, Zhu added. First held in 1957, the Canton Fair is organised twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running among China’s comprehensive international trade fairs and is regarded as a barometer of China’s foreign trade.