Canton Fair draws 110,000 foreign buyers in first three days

The 137th Canton Fair, opened on Tuesday, has welcomed over 110,000 foreign buyers from various countries and regions, marking a significant year-on-year rise.

During a press briefing on Thursday, He Yongqian, spokeswoman from China's Ministry of Commerce, shared the latest data on the recently opened 137th Canton Fair, one of the most important and representative semiannual international trade fairs held in China.

"Till Thursday, over 110,000 foreign buyers from 216 countries and regions around the globe has visited the Canton Fair, marking a 10 percent rise compared to the same period of the 135th Canton Fair," said He.

The 137th Canton Fair, featuring innovation and opening up, has seen a surging number of buyers and exhibitors, highlighting China's vibrant import and export trade.

"The 137th Canton Fair more strongly features opening up. The first phase focuses on advanced manufacturing, with exhibitions spanning from industrial raw materials to finished products, and from specialized equipment to complete production lines. The fair also highlights the vitality of innovation. Over 5,100 exhibiting companies are granted titles including national high-tech enterprises, 'little giant' enterprises that apply special, sophisticated techniques to produce unique and novel products, and manufacturing champions for a certain sector. Over 3,700 companies are related to digital technology, the 'new trio' of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products, and intelligent manufacturing," said He.

Among all exhibits, products featuring AI, digital technology, and green development have garnered wide attention, marking China's power in intelligent manufacturing.

"In terms of exhibits, many low-carbon new products in the commercial and industrial sectors are making their debut. New consumer products like service robots, VR devices, zero-embedded refrigerators, and twin-load washing machines have drawn significant attention. China's intelligent manufacturing capacities have attracted a large group of buyers for visits and discussions," said He.

Officially known as the China Import and Export Fair, the Canton Fair is held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou since its founding in 1957, and has been seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade.

Canton Fair draws 110,000 foreign buyers in first three days

Protesters filled Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, rallying in solidarity with Venezuela and denouncing U.S. influence in Latin America.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Holding numerous flags and banners while chanting slogans intermittently, a huge crowd of protesters criticized U.S. military actions against Venezuela and the unlawful control over President Maduro and his spouse, calling for respect for national sovereignty and regional peace.

"We oppose the U.S. intervention and hegemony towards the countries in Latin America. The United States has flagrantly trampled on international law, bombed Caracas and kidnapped the Maduro couple. The U.S. interventionism has become extremely blatant. We must firmly oppose and be highly vigilant, because this is not only related to a certain country, but also to all countries," said a protester.

"We demand that the United States stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. The country must immediately cease its exploitation and plundering of the countries in Latin America," said another protester.

Protest erupts in Mexico City over US military operation in Venezuela