China's tech-intensive products are fueling foreign trade growth as they win the favor of increasing overseas buyers at the ongoing China Import and Export Fair, the nation's largest comprehensive trade fair.
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.
At this year's event, Chinese exhibitors are showcasing over one million new products, with many of them being tech-intensive, high value-added, and environmentally friendly products.
"Here we have a large 435W solar panel. Our customers can buy the whole set to the house, and just open the box, plug into the wall outlet, so they will be producing power. We have lots of South American customers, also maybe (customers from) Philippines, Southeast Asia, the United States and Europe," said Zheng Fengqing, sales director of Togo Power, a company focusing on solar panel and portable power station.
"As you can see, I'm into EV products, and we import electric vehicles mostly, starting from sedans, SUVs, off-road cars, all of these. And of course, for us, it's a very good experience coming to China, because as we know, China is the global leader in EV manufacturing. I'm very optimistic and Chinese infrastructure for EV manufacturing is very good," said Elidon Dogjani, an Albanian Importer.
The most popular products among overseas customers are China's so-called "new three" products - namely EVs, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products - which have become pillars of the country’s exports in recent years.
China’s foreign trade volume between January and March surpassed 10 trillion yuan (about 1.38 trillion U.S. dollars) for the first time compared with the same period in the previous years, with its growth rate hitting a six-quarter high.
China's tech-intensive products increasingly favored by overseas buyers at Canton Fair
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
