African buyers eye up Chinese products at Canton Fair

African buyers are gathering at the 136th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, in south China’s Guangzhou, drawn by competitive pricing and high-quality Chinese products, while exploring new business opportunities that they can take back to their home countries.

Themed "Serving high-quality development, Promoting high-level opening-up", the latest edition of the long-running trade show is running in three phases from Oct. 15 through to Nov. 4, and features more than 30,000 exhibitors showcasing 1.15 million new products.

As Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, China has long been favored by African businesses, and the Canton Fair has been serving as a key platform to facilitate this relationship. On average, the past five editions of the Canton Fair have welcomed around 14,000 African buyers to visit on-site, with around 95,000 participating online.

Among the many attendees is Nigerian architect Fadillah, who is visiting the fair for the first time. In the past, she had to coordinate with third-party suppliers to buy products from the fair, but visiting in person allowed her get an up-close look at the many products on offer and access a wider selection.

"It's better for me to see. I prefer to see, and touch, and feel [the products], then I collect contacts, and I buy. I do business with them," she said.

As she surveyed many of the eye-catching ‘Made-in-China’ items which are taking center stage at the fair, Fadillah said she especially values the design and quality of the Chinese products on display.

"I think it's the concept, it’s different. There's something about it (that) is different. The design and the texture, the feel, the material," she said.

She said her experience at the Canton Fair has far exceeded her expectations, even rating it ‘100 out of 100,’ and saying she has gained many valuable business connections and contacts.

"When I came, I was very impressed. And I was very happy to be here because I'm making contact, I'm getting to meet people, getting to see ideas I've never thought of. So it's giving me opportunities, sort of like [how to] create businesses even back home," said Fadillah.

Another first-time visitor from Nigeria, a buyer named Aldine, also hailed the vast market potential and favorable prices available.

"The prices, individually, they are actually fair. Compared to, if you have to buy from Europe, it's cheaper to buy from China," said Aldine.

Inspired by what she has seen at the fair, she said she hopes her home country can also seize more opportunities wishing that her country can expand trade with China, and foster better development.

"Personally, I want to see my country grow, like (how) China is growing. So if (trade) is open my people will get (more) work, jobs to do, you understand, and then strengthen our cooperation between the Chinese government and Nigerian government," she said.

Launched in 1957 and held twice yearly, the Canton Fair is considered a major gauge of China's foreign trade, as it not only brings together new products, technologies, and services, but also serves as a platform for the exchange of new ideas.

African buyers eye up Chinese products at Canton Fair

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media