A view of the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province on October 12, 2024 Photo: VCG

Global merchants are gathering in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, where the 136th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, will be held from Tuesday to November 4.

Some overseas buyers told the Global Times that they look forward to exploring the new products and technologies provided by their business partners at the Canton Fair. Many also aim to develop new supplier relationships at China's premier biannual trade fair.

Grand gathering

More than 125,000 overseas buyers, from 203 countries and regions, had pre-registered to attend the Canton Fair as of October 9, Chu Shijia, director of the China Foreign Trade Center, one of Canton Fair's organizers, said on Thursday during a press conference.

A total of 223 companies from the top 250 global retailers and major businesses have confirmed their attendance, an increase of 24 percent from the previous edition (in April and May). The number of large purchasing companies attending the autumn session of the Canton Fair is projected to surpass 300 for the first time, Chu said.

"At present, from indicators such as the number of pre-registration of overseas buyers, hotel bookings and flight booking rate, the 136th Canton Fair is expected to welcome more purchasers from all over the world," said Chu.

Overseas buyers have journeyed across oceans and vast distances to the Canton Fair, highlighting the global business community's trust in Chinese products and confidence in the Chinese economy, Chu noted.

The Global Times also learned from the Canton Fair organizer that more than 100 overseas business chambers or associations will send delegations to participate in the first phase (October 15-19) of the 136th session of the Canton Fair.

About 140 global leading retailers such as US' Hobby Lobby, UK's Kingfisher Group, Austria's XXXLutz, and Japan's Itochu will organize buyers to attend the first phase, the organizer said.

Old friends, new friends

"I came to know Canton Fair by chance through Google advertisement and was very interested in it. Since the 134th session (October and November 2023), I have participated in two consecutive sessions," a buyer from UK, who has registered to attend the 136th session, told the Global Times on Sunday.

The buyer, who declined to be named, aimed to find solar power panels but was accidentally attracted by tofu cat litter displayed by a Shandong-based manufacturer at the 134th Canton Fair. 

"We are discussing further cooperation on cat litter made from natural plants. In terms of attending the Canton Fair, either you never attended, or you constantly attend." 

The Canton Fair draws merchants and buyers from all over the world, Du Wei, a manager at Guangdong Geme Refrigeration Equipment Co, a leading manufacturer of air-to-water heat pumps, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Du detailed the company's encounter with French buyer Patricia Peltier, at the Canton Fair over 10 years ago. Peltier represented a French company specializing in high-end wine cabinet sales.

"We displayed our thermostatic red wine cabinets and latest technologies at our booth at the Canton Fair, hoping to find matching partners. Peltier was looking for high-quality thermostatic wine cabinet products to enrich the company's product line. By chance, he walked into our booth, and we soon drafted a cooperation deal," said Du.

Since then, each session of the Canton Fair has served as a platform for representatives from both companies to meet and discuss market trends, share sales data and map out future cooperation, according to Du.

"We have not only established a long-term relationship in product procurement, but also jointly developed new products to meet the diverse needs of the market," said Du.

Ai Djelmami Hani, a buyer from Algeria's Sarl Office Solution Co, has already placed orders worth $200,000 for Aoking branded backpacks, Huang Yu, a manager at Guangzhou Aoking Leather Co, told the Global Times on Monday.

"Hani has now become an old friend of Canton Fair. In 2023, he visited our booth and was drawn by the backpack. He first bought a small batch of backpacks for sale, and the sales exceeded expectations. In this year's spring Canton Fair (the 135th session), Hani came again and signed an exclusive agency contract with Aoking," said Huang.

More choices

Buyers can purchase not only Chinese products at the Canton Fair, but also global products. 

The trade fair has set up import exhibition areas since the 101st session in the spring of 2007 and officially changed its name to "China Import and Export Fair," from the previous "China Export Commodities Fair." 

This initiative was to boost China's imports from global manufacturers. However, overseas exhibitors attending the Canton Fair not only received orders from Chinese purchasers, but also from global buyers, the Global Times has learned.

"All the Turkish companies are pleased to attend the Canton Fair as their business has grown year after year. The Canton Fair has helped Turkish companies connect with global customers," Fatih Can Dürrüoğlu, a representative from the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, told the Global Times in a previous interview.

The import exhibition areas in the first phase of the 136th Canton Fair have attracted 213 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions. Designated pavilions have been established for groups of companies from Turkey, Egypt, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and the island of Taiwan.

The Canton fair demonstrates China's dedication to opening its economy to global markets by providing a platform for global trade facilitation. By providing a space where overseas businesses can connect with Chinese and global manufacturers and suppliers, it promotes mutual benefit by fostering partnerships that enhance competitiveness for all involved.

The history of the Canton Fair provides a detailed account of how companies from across the globe have united to explore and leverage the myriad opportunities presented by China's dynamic and growing market. 

Established in 1957, this trade fair has been a crucial platform for international business interactions, enabling both trade and cultural exchanges among participants.