Purchasers and exhibitors are seen at the exhibition venue of the 135th session of the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province, on April 16, 2024. Photo: Chi Jingyi/GT

The Canton Fair, which is the epitome of China's efforts to facilitate global trade, is helping global buyers connect with exhibitors from all over the world.

The history of the Canton Fair is a history of companies from all over the world sharing China's opportunities and achieving mutual benefits, and a microcosm of China's continuous opening-up and active integration into the international market, Chinese Premier Li Qiang told representatives from overseas buyers at a symposium held in Guangzhou, S. China's Guangdong Province on Wed.

"Our salespeople are receiving a group of buyers from Kuwait. We have received inquiries from buyers from Africa, the Middle East and even Europe. It's interesting to show all the participants in the Canton Fair that we make products in Europe and sell them worldwide," Javier Juristo, director general commercial for B&B Trends, a Spanish manufacturer and supplier of consumer electronics, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The magic is happening at the ongoing 135th session of the Canton Fair, where global purchasers place orders with global companies during a single trade fair in China.

Overseas buyers and exhibitors told the Global Times that the Canton Fair has built a platform for exchanges among global enterprises, and China's sincerity in sharing opportunities with the world is obvious to all.

Juristo said that many home appliance brands of B&B Trends have participated in the Canton Fair as exhibitors, but it is the first time that the company has had a booth in the international pavilion area, with a collection of all of its brands.

"The Canton Fair provides a platform for us to connect with our global customers and explore new customers," said Juristo.

From Monday to Wednesday, a total of 107,722 overseas purchasers from 212 countries and regions visited the Canton Fair exhibition halls. So far, 149,000 overseas purchasers from 215 countries and regions have registered to visit the Canton Fair, up 17.4 percent from the previous session in autumn 2023.

There is a pavilion designated for companies from Turkey in the import exhibition area, Fatih Can Dürrüoğlu, a representative from the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, told the Global Times on Monday that the chamber has organized 38 Turkish companies to attend the first phase of the 135th session of the Canton Fair, held from Monday to Friday. 

There will be 71 Turkish companies attending the second phase, from April 23 to 27, and 34 companies attending the third phase, from May 1 to 5.

All the Turkish companies are happy to attend the Canton Fair, as their deals have been increasing year by year. The Canton Fair has helped Turkish companies connect with global customers, Can Dürrüoğlu said.

An aerial view of the international pavilion exhibition area of the 135th session of the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province, on April 16, 2024. Photo: Chi Jingyi/GT

"The Canton Fair is a good platform for us to find new customers because so many people visit from all around the world," Hakan Yaylali, foreign trade manager at Altınboğa Gas Equipments, a Turkish valve manufacturer, told the Global Times on Monday.

"We have been exhibiting at this fair for the past 20 years. This is our 40th time attending the Canton Fair. Altınboğa produces products only in Turkey, but it exports to 52 countries," said Yaylali.

"I had a very busy day. It's only the first day and I already feel really tired now," Yaylali said, in a raspy voice. During the interview with the Global Times, Yaylali received two groups of purchasers from Brazil and the United Arab Emirates within five minutes.

Corene Tan, manager at TLC-Koya Chemicals Manufacturing Co, a Malaysian chemical products supplier, told the Global Times that she originally wanted to expand the China market. 

"But surprisingly, there are more inquiries from Southeast Asian and Central Asian buyers, and I have more expectations for this session of the Canton Fair," said Tan.

In recent years, China has spared no effort to open up and provide platforms to facilitate global trade. The country's determination and confidence to opening-up have benefited enterprises from all over the world. 

China's commitment to openness, innovation and development will continue to drive opportunities and prosperity despite global economic uncertainty, Christophe Benard, general manager of Schneider Consumer Asia, said on Sunday during an opening reception for the 135th session of the Canton Fair.  

"My experience in China has convinced me that when China is good, the world will be better. I look forward to discovering more opportunities at the Canton Fair," said Benard.

China's opening-up commitment can be seen at the Canton Fair. Starting from the 101st session in the spring of 2007, the fair began to include an import exhibition area and officially changed its name to "China Import and Export Fair," from the previous "China Export Commodities Fair."

A total of 314 international enterprises from 36 countries and regions had set up exhibits at the 101st session of the Canton Fair.

During the current 135th session, the number of international exhibitors has increased to 680, from 50 countries and regions, in the international pavilion area.