136th Canton Fair set to open with pre-registration of 138,000 overseas buyers

The 136th session of the China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, is set to open in Guangzhou on Tuesday, and 138,000 overseas buyers from 209 countries and regions have pre-registered for the event.

The fair will be held in Guangzhou in three phases between Oct. 15 and Nov. 4. This year, the fair has seen a significant surge in overseas buyer registrations, reflecting a 24 percent increase compared to the previous session.

Adding to this positive trend, 223 of the world's top 250 global retailers are expected to attend, many of which will participate in the form of delegation groups, showcasing the fair's growing influence in the international trade landscape.

Spanning an extensive 1.55 million square meters, the fair will feature 74,000 booths across 55 sections and 171 specialized zones. With preparations now finalized, organizers are poised to welcome participants from around the globe.

Aiming to strengthen international trade relations and promote economic cooperation, the Canton Fair is held in the spring and autumn seasons each year since the spring of 1957 in Guangzhou City, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, the country's economic powerhouse. It serves as a crucial platform for establishing new business partnerships, and is considered a major gauge of China's foreign trade.

136th Canton Fair set to open with pre-registration of 138,000 overseas buyers

136th Canton Fair set to open with 138,000 overseas buyers registered

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Thursday said that China is willing to work with the armed forces of regional countries to share the responsibility of maintaining security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Dong made the remarks while meeting with heads of delegations attending the second edition of the seminar on security situation in the Gulf of Guinea in Shanghai.

Hosted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, the seminar brought together maritime armed force leaders and defense attaches from 18 nations, including Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria.

During the meeting, Dong also called for efforts to promote systematic maritime cooperation, carry forward the traditional friendship with regional countries, and contribute to the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

The heads of delegations attending the meeting expressed the willingness to enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation with China to jointly build a secure, stable, and prosperous Gulf of Guinea.

China's defense minister stresses shared responsibility for maintaining security in Gulf of Guinea