Canton Fair receives 20.2 pct more overseas buyers

The 137th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, had received 148,585 overseas buyers from 216 countries and regions as of Saturday, a year-on-year increase of 20.2 percent.

Scheduled to take place from April 15 to May 5 in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, the current fair has attracted about 31,000 participating firms, nearly 900 more than the previous fair.

This edition of the fair is divided into three phases.

The first, lasting from Tuesday to Saturday, focused on advanced manufacturing. The second one, which will open next Wednesday and end on April 27, will concentrate on quality home furnishings, while the third one, held from May 1 to 5, will feature products that promote a better quality of life.

International buyers said China is a manufacturing powerhouse.

"In my opinion, I think China is the best when it comes to manufacture," said an Oman buyer.

"China got an increasing number of products, and they are becoming more and more high-end," said an Indonesian buyer.

During the fair, a special zone for service robots was set up for the first time, where global buyers said they were impressed by China's latest scientific and technological achievements, including a robotic dog which is capable of performing somersault stunts.

"I really like it. I think it's the future," said a Spanish buyer.

"I really feel it's very cool, and it's next level," said a Pakistan buyer.

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.

Canton Fair receives 20.2 pct more overseas buyers

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market