Vietnamese exhibitor returns to Canton Fair after securing million dollars in orders

A Vietnamese handicraft producer has returned to this year's Canton Fair in south China's Guangzhou, aiming to secure more opportunities after receiving orders worth millions of dollars at last year's event.

The 135th China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, features over 220 enterprises from 30 countries and regions in its import zone during the second phase.

This import zone, one of 15 exhibition areas, offers a wide range of products including kitchenware and household items.

The fair serves as a vital gateway for global entrepreneurs to penetrate new markets and forge international trade partnerships. Thousands of buyers roamed the bustling exhibition area, searching for distinctive products that offer both quality and innovation.

Tony, a returned exhibitor from Vietnam, displayed a range of intricate crafts, including decorations priced between 3 to 4 U.S. dollars. His unique products, which utilize natural and recycled materials like bamboo and duck eggshells, caught the eyes of many buyers.

Tony secured approximately 5 million U.S. dollars in orders during his previous participation and anticipates even greater success this time around with his new line of products.

"It is an amazing fair that we enjoy, giving us a chance to meet with many clients from all over the world. We get around 5 million U.S. dollars from customers after joining the fair. So, I think that we can get more orders for the second time when the customers come here," Tony remarked.

Reflecting on the popularity of his products in international markets, Tony explained the appeal of one of his traditional Vietnamese items. By introducing new materials and designs, he ensures that his products stand out in the competitive market.

"This is the vase that we made from bamboo inside, and outside we used eggshell, duck eggshell to make the item. So, this item has a very special feeling on the surface and the look," Tong said.

"This kind of vase for decoration has very good demand from the U.S. market. And this is a traditional item of Vietnam. They are made from recycled materials, like bamboo, mother-of-pearl, cotton, and recycled wax cups," he added.

Expanding the variety of offerings has been a cornerstone of Tony's strategy to captivate diverse customer bases. With new product lines, he hopes to extend his reach beyond the United States and Europe.

"We bring a new category [of products] to China for customers. We have different products, using different materials. So, the products are different. There are more choices for customers to select our items," Tong said.

Hosted in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, the second phase of the Canton Fair covers an extensive area of 515,000 square meters. With more than 24,600 booths spread across these 15 zones, the event spans five days and concludes on Saturday.

Vietnamese exhibitor returns to Canton Fair after securing million dollars in orders

Cultural exchanges between China and France have played a pivotal role in fostering mutual learning and contributing to the development of both countries, said cultural figures from the two countries.

Culture has always been indispensable and significant to China-France relations. As China and France celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the European country from Sunday to Tuesday.

During his visit, Xi stressed that China and France should speed up people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and continue to hold various activities of the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

When it comes to cultural exchange, experts believe that it not only promotes mutual learning and understanding, but also advances the progress of humanity.

"Mutual learning cannot only promote each other's development, but also bring some new trends. In France, the influence of Chinoiserie was once widespread, not only transforming the painting style of French people but also reshaping their lifestyle, and promoting their development. It is right in the process of mutual learning and interaction that humanity makes progress. I believe that mutual interaction should start during adolescence and even childhood. When someone develops a positive impression of a country, it is highly likely that they will visit it as they grow up. Therefore, people-to-people and cultural exchanges are better to start as early as possible," said Dong Qiang, an eminent translator and dean with the Yenching Academy of Peking University.

Christine Cayol, a French writer, also vice president of the Sino-French Cultural Forum, and founder of Yishu 8, an organization dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between French and Chinese artists, brings forth her distinct perspective on the mutual learning between the Chinese and French people.

In her book titled "Chinese in Time," Cayol offered her perspective on the Chinese people's sense of time, highlighting its flexibility and Chinese people's wisdom gained from living in a country with a rich and ancient civilization.

Cayol believes that the disparity in the perception of time between China and France holds significant value for mutual learning.

"In France, we are not fond of any kind of change. But when I lived in China, there were changes every day. It's a very interesting and fun attitude that encourages creativity. The way Chinese and French people perceive time provides complementary perspectives and hold significant value for mutual learning," said Cayol.

Cultural exchanges catalyze mutual learning between China, France: cultural figures