During the busy trade activities at the 2024 Canton Fair, some Chinese small and medium-sized clothing businesses engaged in foreign trade are actively seeking opportunities to attract more overseas customers outside the fair venue.
The third phase of the 135th China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, opened on Wednesday in China's foreign trade hub Guangzhou. Despite not being able to secure booths at the official exhibition area, some small and medium-sized clothing businesses are actively promoting their products in high-traffic areas like subway stations, bus stops, and hotel lobbies where overseas businessmen are seen frequently, seeking to expand their international customer base.
Fang Jianbin, a clothing vendor at the city's Liuhua clothing wholesale market, chose to introduce his business to overseas buyers who just attended the Canton Fair at a subway entrance close to the event venue.
"This is a hub station, and it's very close to the venue of Canton Fair. A lot of foreign traders are seen here during this period, and many of them are customers in the clothing foreign trade," said Fang.
Fang started his business not long ago, and this year he is an "off-site participant" in the Canton Fair outside the official venue for the second time. To Fang, the biannual Canton Fair has the potential to impact his business for the next six months or more.
"Our primary focus lies in clothing foreign trade, specifically trendy women's wear with rapid updates every year. So here today, I hope to find my potential customers," said Fang.
In south China's Guangdong, a province known for foreign trade, the Canton Fair is a big chance for many local small and medium-sized businesses to find new buyers from abroad.
"When I started doing foreign trade, the Canton Fair was already there. You can connect with customers right at your doorstep, which is better than anything else. As long as there are customers, there's a market," said Jiang Yongtao, a vendor at the Liuhua clothing wholesale market.
In addition to finding prospective customers at subway entrances, staff from the clothing wholesale market also give out bottles of drinking water and business promotional brochures to passersby at taxi pick-up points near the Canton Fair venue.
"We hope such activities can also attract more customers and help businesses in our market gain more orders," said Jiang Baochang, head of the clothing market.
Chinese clothing SMEs seek foreign trade opportunities during Canton Fair
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a restrictive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, during which they had in-depth exchanges on strategic issues of common concern.
The world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi noted, adding that in the face of the ever-evolving world landscape with volatility and turmoil, China has maintained its strategic resolve.
He said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have overcome various difficulties and challenges, and are striving to promote high-quality development and Chinese modernization.
China is willing to work with Russia and other countries to enhance solidarity and cooperation, steer global governance in the right direction, jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and promote world peace and common development, Xi said.
Noting that China's development is unstoppable and that no force can contain China's growth and progress, Putin said that Russia is willing to improve cooperation with China and other Global South countries to promote international fairness and justice, and to work toward a more equal and multipolar world.
The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis.
Xi elaborated on China's consistent position and efforts to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, stressing that to deal with any major issue, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.
He said the core of the Global Security Initiative is advocating the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and the fundamental solution to the Ukraine issue is to promote the establishment of a new balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.
Xi said China supports the convening of an international peace conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine at an appropriate time with equal participation and fair discussion of all options, so as to push for an early political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Putin introduced the relevant views and positions of Russia, saying that Russia appreciates China's objective, just and balanced position on the Ukraine issue and welcomes China to continue to play an important and constructive role in the political settlement of the issue. Russia is committed to resolving the Ukraine issue through political negotiations and is willing to demonstrate sincerity and maintain close communication with China in this regard, he said.
Xi said that over the years, they have had many meetings and every exchange has been candid, in-depth and fruitful.
Xi said he is ready to stay in close contact with President Putin and work together to steer the development of China-Russia relations in the right direction, guide the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era to achieve steady and lasting progress, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute to world security and stability.
Putin thanked Xi for his warm hospitality, saying that he is willing to maintain close communication with Xi, implement the important consensus reached between them, and ensure the full development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
