The 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, opened Monday in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.
As of Sunday, approximately 149,000 purchasers from 215 countries and regions had completed pre-registration for the event, marking a notable 17.4 percent increase compared to the previous edition.
The eagerness of overseas buyers to participate has intensified, with a growing influx of purchasers from the United States, Middle Eastern countries, Belt and Road Initiative participating countries, and member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Scheduled to run until May 5, the fair boasts around 74,000 exhibition booths, and over 29,000 exhibitors are expected to participate.
"We have launched more intelligent and energy-efficient products on overseas markets to attract more consumers. So far we have over 400 customers from more than 100 countries and regions across the world who have appointments to visit our booth for business negotiations," said an exhibitor named Xia Guanghui.
"The quality right now I think is the top level. All the innovative part is developed in China. That's why we are here, that's why we are growing our purchase in China and we are happy to do it," a purchaser from Italy said.
The exhibition, which spans an area of 1.55 million square meters, covers various sectors, including smart manufacturing, new-energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells.
Organizers have planned over 600 trade promotion activities, further enhancing the scope and reach of the fair.
"The Canton Fair provides the world with a window of China's opening-up, and it fully demonstrates the latest achievements in developing the new quality productive forces. Global buyers travel thousands of miles to participate in the Canton Fair, which reflects their trust in 'made in China' and their confidence in China's economic development," said Chu Shijia, director of the China Foreign Trade Center.
Launched in 1957 and held twice yearly, the fair is considered a major gauge of China's foreign trade.
Canton Fair opens in China with surge in overseas purchasers
The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.
During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.
The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.
David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.
"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.
Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.
The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.
"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.
Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.
"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.
Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange
