Canton Fair first phase draws record 189,000 overseas buyers; phase two opens 23 October

The first phase of the 140th China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, ended its in-person exhibition in Guangzhou on 19 October with a record 189,000 overseas buyers from 214 countries and regions, the China Foreign Trade Centre, the fair's organiser, said, as reported by Xinhua. The figure is 13.3 per cent higher than at the same point in the previous session.

The first phase, themed "Advanced Manufacturing", covered 520,000 square metres, with more than 25,000 booths and over 12,000 participating enterprises across five sectors and 19 exhibition areas. The organiser said the record turnout showed the resilience and vitality of China's foreign trade.

Phase two, "Quality Home Life", runs from 23 to 27 October. Phase three, "Better Life", runs from 31 October to 4 November. The intervals between phases are 20–22 October and 28–30 October, according to the schedule posted on the website of China's Ministry of Commerce.

The ministry's list for phase two covers general ceramics, kitchenware and tableware, household items, glass artware, gardening products, art ceramics, weaving, rattan and iron products, home decorations, festival products, gifts and premiums, clocks, watches and optical instruments, building and decorative materials, sanitary and bathroom equipment, furniture, fashion jewellery, and prefabricated houses and courtyard facilities.

Phase three covers toys, children's, baby and maternity products, children's wear, men's and women's clothing, underwear, sports and casual wear, shoes, cases and bags, textile raw materials and fabrics, home textiles, carpets, office supplies, food, medicines, health products and medical devices, personal care products, and pet products and food, among other categories.

This year is the fair's 70th anniversary. China News Service reported on 19 October that the fair's partnership network covers 112 countries and regions, and that 238 overseas business associations, industry organisations and leading buyers have signed cooperation agreements with it. Nearly 20 per cent of the more than 30,000 exhibitors have invested overseas, creating more than 200,000 jobs in host markets.

Zhu Yong, director of the China Foreign Trade Centre, said in a Xinhua report on 15 October, the day the fair opened: "We have always written the Canton Fair story together with exhibitors and buyers, jointly upholding the multilateral trading system and promoting the building of an open world economy." He also said, as quoted by China News Service, that the fair gives participants insight into global customer demand, consumer preferences, industry trends and product standards. Phases two and three will include dedicated import exhibition areas.