International buyers attending the 135th Canton Fair have been conducting on-site factory visits in south China's Guangdong Province as they look to get to know more about their potential business partners and place new product orders.
The first phase of the fair, which concluded in Guangzhou City last Friday, saw transactions and tentative deals struck between more than 125,000 sellers and buyers from 212 countries and regions, representing a 23.2 percent year-on-year increase.
The biannual fair is considered a major gauge of China's foreign trade and many visitors have been supplementing their attendance at the major trade event by stopping off at the factories of many nearby firms.
A smart kitchen factory of the Guangdong Hyxion Smart Kitchen company in the industrial city of Dongguan, located around an hour's drive from Guangzhou, has been receiving participants from the Canton Fair every day.
After witnessing the company's advanced production line, Jiji Mathew, a buyer from the United States, enthusiastically expressed his interest in establishing a cooperative partnership.
"It's one of the best factories that we have ever been to. The technology is very advanced, modern technology, highly-skilled people, quality products, so we are planning to do a lot of work with Hyxion because of their quality and the people," said Matthews. Meanwhile, the Canton Fair saw its second phase get underway on Tuesday, with the latest five-day installment focusing on household items, gifts, decoration and furniture.
The innovative exhibits on offer have enticed numerous foreign businessmen as they look to meet with suppliers and place new orders.
"Basically, the Canton Fair, after several years of absence, it's very important for me. The Canton Fair is a worldwide reference for the commerce [industry] and offers a great opportunity to visit and to [get to] know [and] connect with several and different suppliers in China. I'm very glad to be here because in this way I can know a little bit more about the products and it's easier to make decisions," said Mauricio Arellano, a purchaser from Portugal.
As a bridge connecting China with the world, the Canton Fair showcases high-quality, globally competitive products, and offers new development opportunities for participants from all over the globe.
The latest edition of the event, which was first staged back in 1957, is scheduled to run until May 5 following the conclusion of the third phase.
Int'l buyers pay visits to nearby factories during ongoing Canton Fair
