Canton Fair sees jump in foreign participation

The third phase of the 135th China Import and Export Fair — widely known as the Canton Fair — is scheduled to open on Wednesday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, further building upon the significant increase of overseas buyers in the last two phases.

One of China's biggest trade events, the fair continued to show its "super flow" effects within the global business community, with visits of more than 190,000 overseas buyers in its first two phases — a year-on-year increase of 22.1 percent since its last session in October, the organizer said.

Of the international buyers, 120,000 were from countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, with 46,000 from member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), they said.

Chinese enterprises have paid particular attention to transforming and enhancing traditional industries by using new and green technologies in their products, with more innovative, low-carbon and high-quality products being displayed during the fair, the organizers said.

The fair is held twice a year, in spring and autumn, in Guangzhou.

The fair's third phase, themed "A Better Life", focuses on showcasing five major sectors, including toys, pregnancy and baby items, fashion, household textiles, stationery and health and leisure, with the participation of 11,495 Chinese enterprises and 262 overseas exhibitors from 29 countries and regions.