Electromechanical marvels have impressed buyers at the 135th Canton Fair, which concluded its first phase Friday.
Officially the China Import and Export Fair, the grand expo attracted 23 percent more participants in its first phase compared the the previous session last fall.
The electromachinery industry took center stage during the phase, accounting for 85 percent of the total number of exhibitors. On display were products ranging from large smart drones to self-navigating fork lifts.
Among the exhibitors were more than 3,000 "little giants" -- specialized small or medium enterprises that set an industry benchmark in their field.
Exhibitors said foreign buyers showed strong interest in the modernized functionality of the products. "We brought more green, healthy, smart and interconnected new products. We signed more than 500 intentional orders on the spot with buyers from Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and many other countries and regions," said Guo Huachun, an exhibitor.
Amar Hireche, a Moroccan buyer in China, said he was impressed by the progress made by Chinese companies and hoped for further cooperation with suppliers from the country.
"At this session we have eight buyers coming from our local office team but also from Morocco. Today we see in China a lot of suppliers who have improved their R and D, their design, their product performance and competitiveness. We'll continue to collaborate for a long time in the future," said Hireche.
The second phase of the fair focusing on three categories including housewares, gifts and decorations, and construction materials and furniture will be held from April 23 to April 27, and 9,820 exhibitors will attend the fair off line.
Smart, green electromachinery wins hefty orders at Canton fair
Smart, green electromachinery wins hefty orders at Canton fair
The year of 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary, with Shanghai highlighting the significant impact of Hungarian culture, exemplified by poet Sandor Petofi and architect Laszlo Hudec.
A special program on China Global Television Network (CGTN) that aired on Thursday opened with a reflection on the powerful words of Sandor Petofi, a revered 19th-century Hungarian poet.
His lines "Liberty and love. These two I must have. For my love, I'll sacrifice my life. For liberty, I'll sacrifice my love," resonated with Chinese audiences, largely due to the translation efforts of Lu Xun, a pivotal figure in modern Chinese literature.
In 2007, to commemorate this deep historical connection, the Hungarian government donated a sculpture of Sandor Petofi to Shanghai's Lu Xun Park.
This statue not only symbolizes the enduring friendship between the two countries but also highlights the cultural bridges built by figures like Lu Xun, who introduced Petofi's profound words to Chinese readers.
Another notable Hungarian, the Slovak-Hungarian architect Laszlo Hudec, spent approximately three decades in Shanghai from 1918 onwards, leaving an indelible mark on the city's architectural landscape.
He designed over 60 buildings, significantly enriching Shanghai's skyline with a blend of European architectural styles.
Bence Lengyel, a Hungarian student pursuing his postgraduate degree in international relations at Renmin University of China in Beijing, outlined Hudec's architectural contributions.
"So, basically this Wukang Mansion is located in Shanghai's former French concession area. And this building was built in 1924, and it was celebrated for its unique Renaissance style. And here, we can see some pictures how does the building looks from the inside. Because now, it still operates as these apartments. So people are still living in this big building, so it is forbidden for visitors to enter. But thanks to these pictures, we can get a small insight how does this building look from the inside," Lengyel explained.
The journey through Hudec's legacy also includes the Grand Cinema, designed in 1933 and recognized as a pioneering example of Art Deco in China.
Lengyel shared a personal memory: "One of my highlights during my five years living in China was definitely when I have visited the Grand Theatre here in Shanghai with my friend. Because four years ago, when I was studying in Shanghai, I was studying Chinese and we went in to watch a movie in Shanghainese. So we came to this theater and right after the movie has ended, we got out of the theater and we saw that big plaque right next to the front door. And that was the time when we realized that this Grand Theater was also built by Hudec Laszlo."
Adjacent to the cinema stands the Park Hotel, another Hudec masterpiece, which was Shanghai's tallest building for over five decades.
"So basically, this Park Hotel is one of my favorites. And after reading so much about his journey from Hungary to becoming a well-celebrated architect in Shanghai, I think it's truly inspirational and I'm happy that I can share the same cultural heritage as him. And I think his own ideas and designs [are] what made him so famous in Shanghai," Lengyel reflected.
Decades of cultural exchanges between China and Hungary have significantly enriched Shanghai's architectural and cultural landscape, deepening the understanding and appreciation of Hungary's contributions to China.
China celebrates Hungarian cultural legacy through poetry, architecture
