International buyers are driving business activity at the 137th China Import and Export Fair, with veteran attendees expanding orders and newcomers discovering competitive Chinese products, injecting fresh momentum into global trade recovery.
Also known as the Canton Fair, the expo kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event.
Scheduled to take place from April 15 till May 5 in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, this edition of the fair has attracted more than 200,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions.
Jordanian businessman Arafat is a veteran who has participated in over 50 editions of the fair. Following his successful acquisition of water tankers from a Chinese partner last year, he is now on course to finalize a 500,000 U.S.-dollar deal for innovative energy buses made in China.
Arafat revealed that his company aims to boost the procurement of Chinese vehicles and machinery by up to 30 percent this year.
"Chinese buses offer outstanding cost-performance ratio. Compared with similar models, they deliver excellent performance at very competitive prices, truly worth every penny," he said.
Meanwhile, the manufacturing company's sales director underscored China's impressive foreign trade growth, pointing to its continued expansion and strong upward momentum in recent years.
"Our foreign trade has maintained strong growth momentum since 2023, with annual expansion rates consistently exceeding 25 percent through 2025," said sales director Zhu Meili.
Akash from India is attending the Canton Fair for the first time. He expressed excitement about exploring consumer electronics to boost business opportunities in his home country.
"I'm feeling so excited. I'm looking for consumer electronics, as we know that consumer electronics (have many business opportunities right now) in the market. So that's the reason we want to explore a few different electronic gadgets to make market in my country," Akash said.
Bekzat from Kazakhstan praised the exceptional quality and affordability of Chinese products, calling the Canton Fair one of the greatest platforms for global trade.
"The Chinese products are one of the best qualities and the prices are, like the demanded prices are really affordable. That's why we are here. I think the Canton Fair is one of the greatest inventions right now," he said. Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.
Global buyers flock to China's biggest trade fair, driving major deals on Chinese goods
A member of the Political Bureau of Ansar Allah (the Houthi military group) on Thursday warned of an escalation in conflicts in the Middle East as Israel continued to carry out deadly strikes in Lebanon.
Talking to China Global Television Network (CGTN), Houthi political bureau member Ali Al-Dailami emphasized the group's support for other members of the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance," a regional coalition committed to countering Israel and includes militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
"Coordination within the 'Axis of Resistance' is ongoing, especially since we are talking about American and Zionist hegemony, and this axis is based on resisting imperialism and resisting the Zionist occupation, so it continues. This coordination has already appeared in many moves, most recently what was announced by the military spokesperson Yahya Saree regarding joint operations between Iran, Hezbollah, and Yemen," said Al-Dailami.
"We are with the Islamic Republic of Iran, we are with the resistance, we are with Lebanon, we are with Palestine. This is a principled stance we cannot waver from, and it is also considered a red line. And this red line -- whoever tries to cross it, we will certainly confirm the other direction, which is the direction of the resistance: with Lebanon, with Palestine, with the Islamic Republic of Iran, with Iraq, and with all who resist American imperialism and Zionist occupation," said the official.
His remarks echoed the statement by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who said on Thursday that military operations would escalate in the coming period, warning of potential "surprise actions" in line with developments on the ground.
In a televised speech broadcast by the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, al-Houthi indicated that the group's campaign would enter a new phase marked by intensified activity and evolving tactics.
The Houthi leader highlighted his group's military role within what he described as coordinated regional efforts, stating that the Yemeni front had contributed to "joint operations with the Axis of Resistance," including missile and drone strikes targeting Israel.
A two-week ceasefire was announced early Wednesday by the United States and Iran. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would comply with the truce but would continue military operations in Lebanon.
Prior to the ceasefire, the Houthis had launched missile and drone attacks against Israel starting on March 28 -- one month after the United States and Israel launched the current massive attacks on Iran -- in what they described as support for allied forces in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine.
The group, which has controlled Sanaa and much of northern Yemen since late 2014, previously supported Iran during last year's 12-day conflict with the United States and Israel.
Houthi official warns of military escalation amid regional tensions
