Ever-evolving Canton Fair highlights China's commitment to innovation, global cooperation

GUANGZHOU -- The 138th Canton Fair, known officially as the China Import and Export Fair, came to a close on Tuesday in Guangzhou, the capital city of South China's Guangdong province, having seen a record number of overseas buyers attend.

By Tuesday, this session has attracted over 310,000 overseas buyers from 223 countries and regions, marking a 7.5 percent increase compared to the previous session. The on-site intended export transactions at the Canton Fair reached $25.65 billion, said the organizer of the fair.

The fair saw notable growth in buyers from the European Union, the Middle East, the United States, and Brazil, according to the organizer.

Launched in 1957, the fair has evolved over the decades with improved quality as well as innovative ideas and services. It has become not only a gathering of global business partners, but also a platform showcasing China's commitment to innovation and cooperation, providing certainty and confidence for the world economy.

A platform for growth

It has been 14 years since United Arab Emirates (UAE) businessman Anis Askerali Sajan first brought his two sons, Azhar and Sahil, to the Canton Fair. Today, the once curious visitors are seasoned buyers who represent their family company, Danube Group, which is a leading building materials and real estate firm in the UAE.

"Experience outweighs knowledge. I brought my sons here to teach them how to connect with people. Now they are confident enough to negotiate prices and even visit factories on their own," said Anis, who first attended the fair in 2000.

Over the last two decades, he has witnessed the Canton Fair expand into a larger and more sophisticated platform, and his company has grown from a small importer into a regional business powerhouse.

"The Canton Fair is a platform for growth. It's a gold mine. It's up to you what to identify," he said.

According to organizers, the 138th edition of the fair hosted more than 32,000 exhibitors, including over 1 million new products that were developed in the past year. About 800,000 items were debuted at this session.

Shantilal Patel, an Indian buyer who attended the fair for the first time, said that the vibrant booths of artificial flowers from Dongguan Rosa Import and Export Co Ltd had been "irresistible".

"I'm really impressed by the quality and variety of Chinese products. There's huge potential here, and the Canton Fair is a great window to explore the market," he said.

Hailed as a barometer of China's foreign trade, the fair continues to attract global enterprises seeking orders, partnerships and market insights.

"The fair remains closely aligned with the needs of businesses, with trade promotion at its core," said Zhu Yong, head of the China Foreign Trade Center. According to Zhu, multiple events have been held to connect Chinese enterprises and overseas buyers more efficiently, and to explore new cooperation opportunities.

A stage for innovation

"The fair is held twice a year, yet China's technology evolves so fast that every six months you can discover something different," said Canyigit Atay, chief product officer at Turkey's Arzum Electrical Home Appliances. "Even though I prepare in advance, I always find something new and innovative."

In recent years, the Canton Fair has not only expanded in scale but also in scope, launching new thematic zones and services to meet the needs of global buyers.

A service-robot zone was first introduced at the session held earlier this year, and it continued to attract strong interest during its second appearance, featuring humanoid robots, robotic dogs and other advanced products from 46 leading companies.

"Compared with last time, I can see even more new products now. There are constant innovations in China's service-robot sector," Atay said, adding that his company has begun cooperation with a Chinese robot supplier.

This session also debuted an intelligent healthcare zone, featuring 47 companies specializing in surgical robots, intelligent monitoring systems and wearable devices.

Song Ning, president of Hangzhou Diagens Biotechnology Co Ltd said that the fair offers valuable exposure for firms looking to go global.

"We've been growing in the domestic market for years, and now, the Canton Fair gives us a platform to meet overseas partners," Song said, adding that he feels more confident as so many professional buyers have shown great interest in the company's products.

This fair also introduced a smart navigation system pilot project integrating Bluetooth, BeiDou and 5G technologies to help visitors plan their routes around the 10 exhibition areas efficiently.

Intellectual property protection has remained a highlight of the Canton Fair. Brian Fogarty, Nike's vice president of global IP and global litigation, presented a plaque to the fair's organizers to express gratitude for its constant efforts in the area of intellectual property protection.

"Thanks to the Canton Fair's full-chain intellectual property protection system, we have decreased from a peak of up to 1,500 infringement cases to only a few dozen complaints per session now," said Fogarty, adding that Nike looks forward to seeing more exhibitors bring independently developed innovative products to the fair.

A bridge for partnership

"At the Canton Fair, you meet people from Russia, the Republic of Korea, Africa -- from everywhere. This is what free trade really means," said Amin Khoshnavaz, an Iranian businessman who has been attending the fair for over 15 years.

Acting as an agent for Iranian buyers, Khoshnavaz has introduced hundreds of traders to Chinese suppliers. "The Canton Fair is not only a place for trade. It's about ideas, partnership and trust. Every time I come here, I feel inspired," he said.

Cara Coleman, senior buying manager at Safat Home, a subsidiary of Kuwait's Alghanim Industries, also attends the fair twice a year to meet suppliers and scout for new collaborations.

"It's great to meet all our partners in one place and explore new opportunities," she said. "The connection between China and Kuwait is growing stronger, especially with ongoing infrastructure projects involving Chinese companies."

For Chen Liang, a manager at Guangdong Xin Yu Technology Industrial Co Ltd the fair is both a reunion and a launchpad.

"Our company focuses on licensed toy car models. Every year, we bring dozens of new products to share with our friends from around the world," he said.

Francois Scoliege, a French executive of US-based brand licensing company Established Inc has been visiting the fair since 2001.

"In China, we're generating $300 million in turnover, and another 600 million through Chinese suppliers abroad. I believe there's huge potential here," he said.

"The 32,000 exhibitors and some 300,000 overseas buyers are the Canton Fair's most valuable assets," said Zhu Yong from the China Foreign Trade Center, adding that organizers will continue providing high-quality services and strive to inject greater stability into global commerce.