Guangzhou: The 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, commenced on Wednesday with a historic number of exhibitors, surpassing 32,000. Scheduled from October 15 to November 4 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, this edition has also drawn a record number of buyers, with over 240,000 pre-registered from 218 export markets, marking a 10-percent increase from the previous edition.
According to Namibia Press Agency, there has been a significant rise in the number of buyers from the European Union, the United States, and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, more than 400 leading purchasing companies are set to attend the fair. Surveys conducted prior to the event indicate that over one million new products developed in the past year will be showcased, with around 800,000 items making their debut.
For the first time, this year's Canton Fair features a smart medical zone, which has attracted 47 companies displaying innovations such as surgical robots, intelligent monitoring systems, and wearable devices. The fair continues to include a service robot zone, with 46 leading industry players exhibiting humanoid robots, robotic dogs, and other technological advancements.
Canyigit Atay, chief product officer at Arzum Electrical Home Appliances from Turkiye, remarked on the unique and innovative nature of the Canton Fair. Arzum, a leading Turkish company with a global reach, sees the fair as more than just a trading event but a window to observe China's latest innovations. This year, Arzum is primarily focusing on coffee machines and related products, and Atay noted collaboration with companies offering robot coffee machines.
The fair brings together 46 leading service robot companies showcasing advanced robotic technologies. Yuanhua Tech's booth, featuring a robotic arm demonstrating precise model cutting, attracted many overseas buyers. Li Aili, founder and chairman of Yuanhua Tech, highlighted their surgical robots' ability to perform precise operations, boasting over 5,000 clinical surgeries in hospitals across the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. The company aims to expand its international partnerships through the fair.
Over 10,000 exhibiting companies hold national-level titles such as national high-tech enterprises or "little giant" enterprises, as noted by the organizer. Hamat Tofiq Ahmed, a buyer for Middle Eastern customers, expressed interest in air conditioning products from Gree Electric Appliances, a Chinese home appliance giant. Zeng Fanlong, director of sales for the East Europe area at Gree, stated that the company will showcase more than 130 products, including 50 new models, at the fair.
Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held biannually and is the longest-running comprehensive international trade event in China, often regarded as a barometer of China's foreign trade.